Vietnam Veteran receives diploma
By Beth Hoad  

Former Marion resident Al LaPlant was recently awarded his high school diploma from Marion High School as part of the New York State Education Department Operation Recognition. Originally, the program was developed so that veterans of the armed forces who served during World War II and the Korea Conflict, and who were unable for any reason to complete a secondary education, may be awarded a high school diploma based on knowledge and experience gained while in the service. In November 2005, the program was expanded to include Veterans of the Vietnam War such as LaPlant.

For 13 years, LaPlant, one of a family of fifteen siblings, was shuffled from foster home to foster home and eventually moved back with his mother to Marion where they lived on a farm north of the hamlet. He attended Marion Central School, and chose to have his diploma come from Marion because he enjoyed his time there. He then moved to Canastota, NY, and in September 1967, at age 17, he enlisted in the Army where he was sent to serve in Vietnam and Cambodia as a Generator Powerman with the 11th Armored Cavalry (aka Tank Corps).

He served in Asia in the midst of combat and considers himself fortunate not to have been wounded.

'I did come down with malaria, though. We decided to wash the tanks, and were using what we thought looked like pretty clean water and, as it turned out, it wasn't and about half of the 11th got sick!'

He was discharged in August 1970 and has been a Union electrician for thirty years working in New York, Texas and Florida, and is now a member of Local 840 in Geneva. He is in the process of moving to the Newark area and is presently staying with his daughter Heidi Metras.

The father of seven and grandfather of nine, LaPlant explains his family heritage as 50% French Canadian and 50% Canadian Mohawk Indian.

'I was born in Cobleskill, NY in the building that is now the library. My father served in the Merchant Marines during World War II and my mother was in the Navy. My full brother was also in the Army, and served in Germany.'

Rules for awarding Operation Recognition diplomas include:

1. Candidates must submit evidence of service during World War II (December 7, 1941 through December 31, 1946), the Korea Conflict (June 27, 1950 through January 31, 1955) or the Vietnam War (Southeast Asian Hostilities)(May 1, 1961 through April 30, 1975). Such documentation may include discharge papers or other such documents or a letter from a recognized veterans agency affirming such service.

2. Candidates do not need to show evidence of attendance at a school in New York State. They need only affirm in writing that they do not possess a high school diploma.

3. Candidates possessing a High School Equivalency (or GED) diploma are eligible for the program.

4. Diplomas may be awarded to next of kin, if eligibility is established.

Questions concerning Operation Recognition should be directed to Steve Mink, Assistant in Continuing Education, Room 307 EB, Albany, NY 12234. (518) 474.8940

LaPlant feels that many returning Vietnam Veterans did not get a fair shake after the war and this program helps them get some of the recognition they are due as a result of the service training and consequential education they received. He said it was difficult to find a job for a few years after his discharge.

'They (employers) heard I didn't graduate from high school and said I wasn't qualified even with all the training and experience I got over there.'

'The civilian population didn't accept the veterans' service training and many weren't able to look beyond their personal feelings about the war. That's no longer an issue now and I think this program (Operation Recognition) is a great thing. It gives the vets who didn't graduate some of the public recognition they deserve for their service and all that they learned. I hope all the Vietnam Veterans who qualify will take advantage of it.'

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