WWII Veteran In Paramus Receives 1,000 Cards For His 102nd B-Day

PARAMUS, NJ – A World War II veteran in Paramus on the verge of a big milestone received a hero’s welcome on Monday when he was presented with a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol in his honor.

On Veterans Day, Michael Diederich was visited by U.S. Rep Josh Gottheimer, who gave the U.S. Army Air Corps veteran a flag and a U.S. Army Bicentennial Bronze Medal.

Gottheimer also brought Diederich a birthday card, along with cards from local Boys and Girls Clubs, bringing him closer to his birthday wish.

Diederich, who lives at CareOne at the Cupola, turns 102 on Nov. 20 and said last month all he wanted is to receive 102 cards. Since then, he has received nearly 1,000 birthday cards.

On Monday, Gottheimer said, “It’s an absolute honor and privilege to hear the Sergeant’s story, and to thank him for his service to our great country. I’m especially lucky to be able to spend time with so many of our bravest veterans.”

“It is our duty as Americans not only to honor these men and women, but to do everything we can to fight for them when they return, to ensure they have the care they need, the benefits they were promised, and the support we all owe them,” he said.

During the war, Diederich was a nose gunner and bombardier in a B24 bomber. While serving, he completed more than 35 missions over Germany.

Stationed in Norwich, England the B-24 bomber "Dorothy K Special" completed its missions with the same exact crew over a year's time. After the war, he entertained the troops with his marionette act as part of the USO Show Teams in Asia and the South Pacific.

Diederich's show business career consisted of his main act "Dietrich and Diane" which was a marionette act including a Punch and Judy, sailors, ice skaters and at some shows even a striptease.

He moved to New York City, attended photography school and produced the series "Adventures of Blinkie". His show business career traveled him around the country, performing sometimes two or three shows a day with hours of travel in between. "Dietrich and Diane" continued to perform until the mid-seventies, mainly during the holiday season and performing for grammar schools.

In 1953 at the age of 33, he married 20-year old Dorothy Elizabeth Schaffner. She was a professional singer and one of the "Four Sapphires" on the Allen Dale Show. After a six week honeymoon to Mexico the couple moved to Westchester, NY and then settled in Stony Point, New York where they raised their six children.

The couple ran "Dietrich's Fisherman's Dude Ranch", "Dietrich's Fish and Swim", then ultimately "Dietrich's Swim Club" from 1964 to 1989. In addition to this summertime member-only club, he spent many years as a Real Estate agent. He was an active member of the Stony Point Lion's Club, president of the Stony Point Businessman's Association, and in the 1990s was part of the planning board for the Patriot Hills Golf Club.

They now reside in Paramus.

Some of the loves of his life: his wife, his family including 13 grandchildren and 1 great granddaughter and friends. He is a fan of the New York Giants and New York Yankees.

Birthday cards can be mailed to Michael Diederich, CareOne at the Cupola, 100 W. Ridgewood Ave., Paramus, NJ 07652.