Twenty city men, veterans of the scattered battlefronts of World War II, will receive their high school diplomas at the annual Williamsport High School commencement exercises June 13. Among the graduates will be Joseph Lockard, former Army lieutenant, who as a private in the Signal Corps gave the unheeded warning of approaching enemy warplanes at Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941.

Lockard, now employed at the Lycoming Dry Goods Store under G.I. Bill of Rights program to learn a trade, enlisted in the service in August 1940, one year prior to opening of his senior year at the high school.
Discharged in last December, he felt the need for a high school diploma and with credits earned in various Army programs—in which he advanced from private to lieutenant—he completed requirements for graduation by taking an English examination.

Married and the father of two children, the Pearl Harbor hero does not expect to continue his education at a higher institution of learning at this time.

William Gates, of 610 West Fourth Street Asiatic-Pacific Theater duty with the Coast Guard, achieved one of the outstanding records in the program by completing a year’s work in seven months. Enlisting in 1941, he returned to complete credits for graduation to qualify for college entrance. His plans are now being molded for a career in law.

A program made available to those veterans who entered the armed services before completing high school requirements, the local class now has 25 students, most of whom will be included in the Class of 1946. Others will conclude their work at a special summer school opening June 24 through August 6.

Compiled by Lou Hunsinger Jr.