密歇根新闻广播 二战老兵70年后拿到了高中毕业证

There's a lot of talk about supporting our military veterans as they come home and transition back to civilian¹ life. The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency is standing² by to help vets³ in a variety of ways, from employment to benefits and resources to transition assistance.

And WWII veteran Franklin Quinlan's experience shows that their assistance is there for a lifetime.

Quinlan recently received his high school diploma with help from the agency.

The veteran decided⁴ to get his diploma because one of his sons received a doctorate⁵ in physics and he says, "I wanted to show him his father was quite well-educated, too."

The agency helped contact his high school and after looking up his 70-year-old record, they discovered he was entitled to a diploma.

Upon receiving it just weeks later Quinlan says, "The date they had marked, 1939, I then felt like I was 18 years old again."

Quinlan served in the merchant marines and Navy working mostly on the Pacific coast with naval⁶ air patrol bombers⁷.

When he returned to the United States, he already had a family to support and jumped right into work as a high pressure boiler⁸ operator.

Throughout his lifetime Quinlan often changed occupations. He's spent time as a fireman and sergeant⁹ with the Ferndale Fire Department, a builder, and then owned a concrete business, a party store and Quinlan's Irish Gifts.

"You name it, I've done it," he says.

With four kids, 12 grandkids and 12 great-grandkids, Quinlan is busy, but he still finds time to visit schools and teach children about his service.

"What's next? I haven't quite planned yet. I'm possibly thinking maybe I'll go back to college and see about getting a degree in history and teach history," Quinlan says. "That will hold me until I am probably about 100 and then I'll think it over then."

For veterans who are transitioning back to life as a civilian, Quinlan offers the advice of concentrating on the next phase of life and joining veterans groups.

Any Michigan veteran can get assistance from the Michigan Veteran Affairs Agency website or call 24 hour hotline 1-800-MICHVET.

1 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

2 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

3 vets   

abbr.veterans （复数）老手，退伍军人；veterinaries （复数）兽医n.兽医( vet的名词复数 )；老兵；退伍军人；兽医诊所v.审查（某人过去的记录、资格等）( vet的第三人称单数 )；调查；检查；诊疗

参考例句：

• I helped train many young vets and veterinary nurses too. 我还帮助培训了许多年青的兽医和护士。 来自互联网
• In fact, we've expanded mental health counseling and services for our vets. 实际上，我们已经扩大了退伍军人的心理健康咨询和服务。 来自互联网

4 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

5 doctorate   

n.(大学授予的)博士学位

参考例句：

• He hasn't enough credits to get his doctorate.他的学分不够取得博士学位。
• Where did she do her doctorate?她在哪里攻读博士？

6 naval   

adj.海军的，军舰的，船的

参考例句：

• He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
• The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。

7 bombers   

n.轰炸机( bomber的名词复数 )；投弹手；安非他明胶囊；大麻叶香烟

参考例句：

• Enemy bombers carried out a blitz on the city. 敌军轰炸机对这座城市进行了突袭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Royal Airforce sill remained dangerously short of bombers. 英国皇家空军仍未脱离极为缺乏轰炸机的危境。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 boiler   

n.锅炉；煮器(壶，锅等)

参考例句：

• That boiler will not hold up under pressure.那种锅炉受不住压力。
• This new boiler generates more heat than the old one.这个新锅炉产生的热量比旧锅炉多。

9 sergeant   

n.警官，中士

参考例句：

• His elder brother is a sergeant.他哥哥是个警官。
• How many stripes are there on the sleeve of a sergeant?陆军中士的袖子上有多少条纹？