96-Year-Old World War II Veteran To Receive Honorary Degree
Every Mustang home basketball and volleyball game, Leonard Pritikin can be seen front row, in a bright yellow jacket and a veteran cap. He’s a familiar site to student-athletes and this December he’ll be introduced to the entire graduating class, receiving an honorary degree from Western New Mexico University President Joseph Shepard. “For so many years, I was kicking myself in the pants and sorry that I never went and got that degree,” said Pritikin, a 96-year-old veteran. “Now I never have to kick myself in the pants anymore thanks to Dr. Shepard and the Board of Regents.” At the age of 19, Pritikin enlisted into the Marine Corps, joining millions of other young Americans who would take part in the Second World War, missing their opportunity to earn a college degree. Pritikin served from 1940 to 1945, his military career cut short due to injuries, but not before traveling through Pacific as a section leader of heavy machine guns. “I drove a jeep patrol and...