Dying Marine vet, 98, finally gets high school diploma while receiving hospice care after dropping out of school to fight in World War Two

A dying Marine veteran was finally handed his high school diploma while receiving hospice care after dropping out to fight in World War Two over eight decades ago.

Richard Remp, a 98-year-old marine veteran in hospice care, left school at 17 years of age to serve in World War II, before later continuing his service in Korea and Vietnam. 

But on Friday he was finally handed the high school diploma he had longed for all these years but never received.

Remp told local San Antonio NBC affiliate NEWS4SA: 'On behalf of myself and the Marine Corps, I thank you very much for what you have done for me. I'll never forget this. How can I with all you good people around me? I'm really happy'.

A dying Marine veteran has finally received his high school diploma while receiving hospice care after dropping out to fight in World War II nearly eight decades ago

Richard Remp, a 98-year-old marine veteran in hospice care, dropped out of high school at 17-years-old to serve in World War II

Known affectionately as 'Gunny' for his role as a gunnery sergeant in Vietnam, Remp found himself in hospice care at home after doctors diagnosed him with stage four cancer following a recent fall.

Determined to fulfill Remp's lifelong wish, his family and friends at the nearby American Legion Post 247 devised a plan to secure his high school diploma. 

They reached out Remp's original school district in Sharon, Pennsylvania, a little over an hour north of Pittsburgh, but the school was unable to get the job done in time. 

On Friday, he was personally handed the high school diploma he had longed for all these years but never received

He put his education on hold 81 years ago to fight Nazis, later continuing his service in Korea and Vietnam

But after hearing his story, Superintendent Justi Glaros of a neighboring district arranged for the diploma to be printed. 

She took a 4.5-hour journey to personally deliver the diploma to Remp's bedside.