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SALT LAKE CITY — More than 45 years after he proved his valor on the battlefield, a Utah veteran of the Vietnam War persevered to earn his college diploma.
"I look at it as something that is an unfulfilled life goal," Jim Sargent said.
At the age of 69, Sargent walked in the University of Utah commencement tonight at the Huntsman Center and will receive his English degree tomorrow.
Growing up, Jim Sargent said he always expected that he would earn a college degree. He always considered it an important goal as a young student.
"It just didn't work out the first time," he said.
He first attended classes at the U. 50 years ago, but jokes that pool halls and card tables were his downfall. Sargent said he would work one semester to earn the money for school, and attend classes the next. That wasn't going well, so he enlisted in the Army.
Sargent performed well enough on the Army's tests to attend Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as an officer.
In 1968, as a first lieutenant in Vietnam, Sargent commanded the Army's Co. A, 2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division. On June 17, he led a reconnaissance mission to engage a large force of the Viet Kong in Ap Dinh Hoa, South Vietnam.
"We ended up in a very intense battle that lasted all day and into the night, and into the next day," he said.
A rocket-propelled grenade severely wounded his legs. Four hours later, his left arm was wounded, too, but Sargent stayed in command while his men were pinned down by machine gun fire.
"I would not leave my command until I could get them out," he said. "I couldn't get them out all day because the fighting was so ferocious."
He said he left on the last medical evacuation helicopter with the most severely wounded soldier in his command.
Sargent received two Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star for his valor. He received the second Purple Heart in a ceremony at the headquarters of the Utah Army National Guard in August 2003 after realizing that he was eligible for the second medal. It was important to him and his family that his record accurately reflect his service, so he applied for, and received the second medal.
"I was proud of my service."
Back at home in Utah, Sargent he worked 30 years as a mail handler for the United States Postal Service, and served as the union president for eight years.
With a name like Sargent, Jim Sargent may have always been bound for the army anyway, but at the age of 57, he went back to college more than a decade ago through the VA Rehabilitation Education Program as an eligible disabled vet.
He said he was inspired by the academic achievements of his two daughters. His eldest is a lawyer. The younger is working on an advanced degree in creative writing at USC.
"I have some very good examples," he said with a smile. "I just wanted to tie myself to the success of my children."
This week that work is complete.
"One of the greater achievements that I would have ever expected," he said.
Sargent always enjoyed writing over the years, and decided on an English major for that reason. He is a published author of poetry and short stories, and plans to keep that up in the years ahead.
Sargent was the second oldest graduate tonight: a 70-year-old also walked in commencement. The youngest graduate was 15-years-old.
