Lew Griffith, a 99-year-old man who served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, attended his first-ever graduation ceremony this week at the University of Texas at Austin Cockrell School of Engineering.

Although Griffith already had a high school diploma and two degrees, he was never able to attend a graduation ceremony. He served in World War II shortly after beginning his first year at UT in 1942 as a B-25 bomber pilot, and flew 42 missions in Italy and Austria.

After the war, he went back to UT to finish his civil engineering degree but was called to serve during the Korean War in 1951 and was deployed to Germany as an engineer, according to the university.

UT Austin’s Cockrell School of Engineering recently celebrated the graduation of a unique student, Lew Griffith, who is 99 years old. Griffith, who already holds a high school diploma and two degrees, was unable to attend a graduation ceremony earlier because he graduated high school early and immediately served in the World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

Despite the challenges, Griffith completed his civil engineering degree at UT Austin in 1942 but was recalled to serve in the Korean War in 1951, and then deployed to Germany as an engineer. Griffith received his master’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley, but missed his graduation ceremony due to the Vietnam War.

After retiring from the military in 1970, Griffith joined the Texas Department of Solid Waste and began volunteering at Austin’s Settlement Home, where he has worked on building equipment for an annual garage sale for 47 years. UT recognized Griffith for his commitment to education and military service despite all the obstacles he faced.

Lew Griffith graduated alongside around 150 students from various engineering programs at the University of Texas at Austin.