With Remembrance Day passed again till next year. I am proud to pass on this remarkable story from Toronto.
Just before noon Thursday, John Dietsch was in the basement board room of Oakridge Legion branch 73 in Toronto's east end.
In keeping with the custom of mornings after Remembrance Days, the 84-year-old Second World War veteran sat around a table covered in poppies, boxes and cash, the fruits of the Legion's annual donation campaign which he had been a part of for the past couple of weeks.
A proud veteran who wears a Legion jacket with a poppy volunteer ribbon pinned over his heart, Mr. Dietsch and three others were sorting the donations when a visitor, armed with a gun, burst in.
I see the fellow come in and say, Give me all the bills,' recalled Mr. Dietsch, who served in the navy in the North Atlantic. I was surprised, and I said to him, What are you doing here?' He says, Give me all the bills.' At that point, I saw the gun.I just acted on impulse. Mr. Dietsch, retired for 20 years and described by others as the backbone of the local legion, lunged at the armed intruder, and a tussle ensued. He knocked me backwards, and I was against the wall, then the other guy wrestled him out the door.
The other guy was Legion volunteer Earl Gray, a comparatively young man of 64, who himself went after the intruder after Mr. Dietsch fell. Mr. Gray and the intruder jostled for the weapon on the floor just outside the room's door.
He's wrestling with him, trying to get the gun from him, recalled Pat Shone, 65, another of the four Legion volunteers who were in the board room.
After the tussle, the man fled out the side door through which he'd entered. Ms. Shone went to chase after him, stopping only at the request of her daughter, the fourth person in the room.
If I'd have gotten my hands on him, I'd have strangled him, Ms. Shone fumed. My thought was John on that floor. I think that's what hit me more than anything.
Mr. Dietsch wasn't badly injured (Just a little scrape on my elbow, he said) and was left yesterday wondering what led to the attempted heist.
He was struck by a pair of robberies of poppy boxes from nearby Beer Stores, and the fact that the man knew which room the money was in.
He must have been looking at the place, because he knew where to go, Mr. Dietsch said.
They say they were lucky no one got hurt, and that in his hunt for bills the thief walked right by about $7,000 or so in rolled coins that were sitting on the tables outside the room.
Police took a description and hadn't made any arrests last night, but were on hand as word spread of Mr. Dietsch's actions, defending cash that was nevertheless covered by the Legion's insurance policy. Among those clamouring for his story were five local networks and a national morning news show.
It's an 84-year-old veteran who was attacked. All we're trying to do is raise money for people who need it. I think people are disgusted by that, Ms. Shone said, explaining the attention. He's a tough old guy. We're all amazed at him he never raises his hand. It's very out of character, but he said: You're not getting the money.'
Mr. Dietsch's daughter, Dianne Power, joked that he probably liked some of the attention.
I was surprised at what happened, but I wasn't surprised at what my dad did, said Ms. Power, a Legion volunteer herself. He's very proud to be a veteran, and very proud to be a member of the Legion.
Legion volunteers will now be locking the side door the intruder came through, which they'd been leaving open for veterans who are no longer allowed to smoke inside but for whom the front door is too far. They urged other Legions to do the same.
Asked about the intruder who got away, she beamed.
He got more than he bargained for.
I personally hope they are caught prosecuted and go to Prison/
On another note letters and photos have been arriving from Red Rally Days both in NS and PEI next week I plan to dedicate a Blog to those stories. Proud Canadians doing their bit.
Please remember if you are sending Cards or parcels to anyone serving in the military, The postage is free till January at any Canada Post . letters ands parcels must be addressed to:
Name Rank Number, Unit. and MOST IMPORTANTLY the CFPO Number, in Belleville.
Remember Everyone Deployed
Army,Navy,Airforce Proud to Serve
Nil Sine Labore
Robby
