Eighty years after missing his college graduation ceremony, a 101-year-old WWII vet walked the stage and officially received his diploma on Sunday, May 14, in Mount Vernon, Iowa.
“Every able-bodied man and lots of women were involved in World War II,” Fred Taylor of La Mesa, California, told Fox News Digital.
“I think 16 million altogether,” Taylor added. “I have no regrets about going into the service.” He went on, “I really enjoyed flying. My only regret is missing my graduation ceremony, as you normally would end your senior year.”
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Brand went on, “I think there was love for him because of his connection to Cornell, because of his military service, because of his endurance.”
Taylor had completed the requirements for his music degree at Cornell College, but the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 catapulted the United States into World War II — putting the plans of many in his generation on hold.
Fred Taylor’s photograph from his junior year yearbook at Cornell College in Iowa in 1942. (Cornell College)
“Some friends and I joined the Army Air Corp Reserve because we wanted to fly rather than be foot soldiers,” Taylor said.
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“To find out that we [had] a student who, 80 years ago, missed that culminating moment in his life to actually celebrate the completion of his study — there’s sort of this feeling that something wasn’t finished,” Brand said.
“Here’s somebody who served our country during World World War II, somebody who left college so that he could help literally save the world from the greatest threat. What a wonderful way to honor him in front of our students,” Brand added.
During the war, Taylor flew fighter planes.
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“I flew the P51 Mustang in Italy,” Taylor said. “And that’s a terrific airplane.”
The family moved to California, where Taylor continued teaching for 26 years in the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District. He then retired.
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For his 80th birthday, Taylor went for a ride in a P51 again — another experience arranged by his only child, Linda.
“Dad was like, ‘Great, let’s get upside down. Let’s go for it,’” Linda Taylor said.
After completing his university degree 80 years ago, Fred Taylor was finally able to walk across the stage at Cornell College in Iowa and receive his diploma in person this year. (Cornell College)
Being able to see her dad walk the stage meant a lot, she added.
“When we finally got to conferring the degrees, I introduced him and he walked up to the stage alone,” the Cornell College president said.
“There was another standing ovation as he came up onto the platform. He was looking at me. You could see that it was gratifying. He waited 80 years for that moment. He was at ease.”
At the age of 101, Taylor traveled from California to Iowa to receive his diploma from Cornell College along with this year’s graduating class. (Cornell College)
Brand said that as he officially conferred the degrees of all the graduates from the class of 2023 and 1943, he “had goosebumps.”
“I waited 70 years for that one,” Taylor said. “I was working for Armour & Company in the Black Hills at the time. I worked for them on the road as a traveling salesman for about three years. Then I decided if I was ever going to use my degree, I better get started.”
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With all the knowledge and experience that comes at age 101, Taylor said he doesn’t think he is qualified to dole out advice to his fellow graduates of today.
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“We tell our students that we want them to graduate with a focus on others, a compassion for helping others,” Brand said.
“How often do they get to have somebody in front of them who actually represents that, who lives it? I am excited for him to be back on his campus, not just for him, but frankly as an inspiration for our students.”