When Moe Boyle met Irv Radatzke, more than 20 years ago, she didn’t believe him when he told her his age. 

“I was a crossing guard for a school and he would walk down the street with three dogs, and we just started talking,” she told CBC’s On The Coast.

“He told me his age. I didn’t believe him, so the next day he came down with his driver’s licence to prove his age — and it was friends forever by then.”

Boyle celebrated Radatzke’s 100th birthday with him on Nov. 13 — two days after Remembrance Day, an important day for the Second World War veteran.

Now, to honour his service — both during his time on the frontlines and in his community — Boyle is asking people to send Radatzke Christmas cards, hoping to lift his spirits as he remains in the hospital while recovering from a fall. 

“I’ve gotten so many letters from all over the place, and they’re not only wishing him a happy birthday, but they’re also thanking him for being a soldier,” Boyle said.

“Everybody is happy to do this. Irv does not ask for any of this. People want to do it.”

Boyle said Radatzke is known in the New Westminster community for helping others, Boyle said.  

“Whether it’s to build a fence or plant flowers, he’s always been the one that you could rely on,” she added.

“He’s never asked for anything in return. This man is so humble. He really is the sweetest man on the Earth.”

Second World War veteran

That willingness to help is something that was common among Second World War veterans, according to Greg Passey, a veteran and trauma psychiatrist. 

“It’s an inspiration for all us younger veterans,” Passey said. “They’ve forged the way for us, they’ve shown us the way.”

Passey, along with a group of fellow veterans, spent Remembrance Day with Radatzke in the hospital.

On that day, they observed a moment of silence for fallen soldiers, and the group saluted Radatzke. 

“It was probably one of the best Remembrance Days we’ve ever had,” Passey said. 

“He’s such a nice guy to be with. There’s good and evil in the world, and he’s one of the good ones.”

Radatzke’s discharge papers indicated he has a Canadian volunteer medal and a France-Germany campaign medal from his time in the armed forces, according to Passey.

Christmas cards

Boyle hopes as many people as possible will send good wishes by way of Christmas cards to Radatzke this holiday season.

Some cards have already arrived — including one from the RCMP’s cybercrime unit in Toronto. 

It reads, in part: “Our mandate is to protect Canadians from cyber criminals, but we would not have had this country to protect if it was not for you who fought for everything we have today. Thank you for your service.”