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.’

Other Publications You Might Be Interested In

George Coker: A story of perseverance

It was supposed to be a routine mission, a “milk run” in the words of George Coker, who was serving on his 55th missions in Vietnam as a bombardier/navigator. Usually, his missions consisted of flying over Vietnam from the aircraft carrier USS Constellation and bombing strategic points like bridges and

Read More »

P.O.W.’S HAD LIST OF PROHIBITIONS (David Rollins)

The North Vietnamese captors of American servicemen were adamant. No writing on the pri son walls. No noise. No dis courtesy to the guards. Regulations issued by the North Vietnamese in 1969 pro mised a reward for prisoners who informed about violations and punishment for those who tried to oppose

Read More »