The University of Kansas has given its College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award to a four-star general who was also a prisoner of war in Vietnam.

Charles Boyd received the award Friday at the Dole Institute of Politics. The Lawrence Journal-World reports  that Boyd spent nearly seven years as a POW in Vietnam, and later attended the University of Kansas to study Spanish.

At the presentation for the award, Boyd said his time at KU set him on the path to becoming a four-star general. He received his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in Latin American Studies from KU in the 1970s.

Boyd retired from the military in 1995 after 35 years of service.