CANTON — Sixty-five years ago, Clarence "Cal" Hansen was just a month from graduation at what was then the New York State Agricultural and Technical Institute, when he was called away to fight in World War II.

Today, he and his brothers in arms will receive certificates of attendance alongside the class of 2008 at SUNY Canton's commencement.

"This was a wrong which needed to be righted. These guys needed to have a graduation," said Randy B. Sieminski, the college's public relations director.

Mr. Hansen contacted SUNY Canton's alumni office recently to tell them about a large number of students from the class of 1943 who were required to leave school April 1 — just weeks before graduation. They had been told by a military recruiter that they would be able to finish school.

As college officials combed records from the 1940s, they found other students who left to serve in World War II and never received their degrees.

"This is just one of those things nobody really came across before," Mr. Sieminski said. "It was a challenge to track them down after 60 years, but we did our best to find them before this year's graduation. We didn't want a situation where we missed a single opportunity for even one of them to be honored."

So far, they have identified 27 veterans who were weeks shy of getting degrees when they were called off to battle.

"This is likely the most special group of students in the college's illustrious history," said SUNY Canton President Joseph L. Kennedy in a statement. "They've been appropriately called 'the Greatest Generation' because of what they did for our country and the world. It wouldn't be a stretch to call them our greatest graduates."

Mr. Hansen is traveling from South Dakota with his sons to accept his certificate, and will be joined by four other World War II veterans whose studies at the college were interrupted.

He'll also meet and accompany one widow, who is accepting the certificate on behalf of her husband, to the service.

"This is just an amazing couple of guys. You mention one, and they start talking about him as if it were yesterday," Mr. Sieminski said. "They're already getting in touch with each other."

Vice President of Advancement David M. Gerlach said he's still seeking help to find World War II veterans or surviving family members to accept the certificates they earned with their schoolwork and their service. If you know a veteran who missed out on a degree, call 1 (888) 388-7123 or e-mail alumni@canton.edu.

"Although some of our veterans have passed away, we're hoping that their spouses or children will contact us. And for those that are unable to attend, we'd still like to send them their honorary certificate," Mr. Gerlach said in a statement.