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The Honorary Diploma for the Veteran Who Left School to Serve

Mississippi awards an honorary high school diploma to honorably discharged veterans of WWII, the Korean Conflict or Vietnam who could not finish school because of their service. The recognised windows are 1941–1955 for WWII, the Korean Conflict, and 1963–1973 for Vietnam. It carries no money. It is here because it is the kind of thing a family asks for once and cannot find, and because there is no deadline on it — a veteran in their nineties can still receive one, and so can their family after them.

Verified August 27, 2026

What this benefit is

Mississippi awards an honorary high school diploma to honorably discharged veterans of WWII, the Korean Conflict or Vietnam who could not finish school because of their service. The recognised windows are 1941–1955 for WWII, the Korean Conflict, and 1963–1973 for Vietnam. It carries no money. It is here because it is the kind of thing a family asks for once and cannot find, and because there is no deadline on it — a veteran in their nineties can still receive one, and so can their family after them.

What it's worth: An honorary high school diploma

  • WWII: 1941–1955.
  • The Korean Conflict.
  • Vietnam: 1963–1973.
  • An honorable discharge is required, and service must be the reason high school was not completed.
  • THE ADMINISTERING BODY IS NOT ESTABLISHED from the sources reviewed. Mississippi Veterans Affairs lists the benefit; start there.
  • The residency test is not established either.
  • No fee and no deadline are published.

Who is entitled to it

  • You are in one of the groups who can pursue this.
  • The discharge was honorable.
  • School was interrupted by service.
  • Mississippi awards it.

Not sure whether that describes you?

Answer a few questions about this benefit specifically — we only ask what this one actually depends on, and we stop as soon as we know.

How to claim it

  1. 1Ask Mississippi Veterans Affairs who awards it — the state lists the benefit but not the office.
  2. 2Have the DD214 or discharge certificate. For WWII and Korea service these are often held by a county chancery clerk.
  3. 3Ask whether the veteran's former school district or the state issues it, since practice in other states differs.
  4. 4If the veteran has died, ask anyway. Awards of this kind are commonly made posthumously.
  5. 5Allow time if you want it for an occasion. Nothing about this is fast.
Form
Enquiry to Mississippi Veterans Affairs
File with
Mississippi Veterans Affairs
Documents you will need
dd214
No renewal
Once granted it does not need renewing.
Worth knowingWe could not establish which body awards this or what residency it needs. Mississippi Veterans Affairs lists it, so they are the place to start, and we would rather say that than invent an office.

Sources

This finder provides an informational match, not a government eligibility determination. The responsible agency decides your application.