Diploma caps long-fought struggle – Son draws on father’s experiences as Vietnam POW to accomplish goals (John Deering)

Told he would never walk again after a car accident left him a quadriplegic at age 15, earning a college degree was the last thing John Deering ever thought he’d care about.

Against all odds, the White House resident graduated from Volunteer State Community College Dec. 12, earning a degree in Computer Information Technology with a perfect 4.0 grade point average. He was honored at the ceremony with the college’s Outstanding Graduate Award for 2015.

“I was overwhelmed. I never thought I’d go to college let alone earn a 4.0,” he said.

But if his father, John Deering Sr., were still alive he’d tell his son ‘I told you so.’

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