A 92-year-old World War II veteran was pushed to the ground as he tried to stop a vandal taking his American flag hanging on a flag pole in his yard.

Howard Banks, who is legally blind, was prompted to investigate after he heard someone pulling down the flag outside his Kaufman, Texas home.

Banks said: 'I walked out, hanging onto the railing and stepped down. That must've startled them.

Howard Banks, who is legally blind, proudly shows off his war time memorabilia

The US flag hangs proud on Banks' lawn in Kaufman, Texas

'They could see me. I couldn't see them. I turned and looked in the other direction, and about then – 'wham!' They knocked me down.'

The would-be thief ran off, without the flag, but they did toss his 'God Bless All Police' sign across the yard.

Watching neighbors rushed in to help Banks who suffered a twisted knee and has numerous bumps and bruises however he says 'I'm durable. I can take it.'

Banks, who was 18 when he enlisted in the armed forces and fought in the battle of Iwo Jima, Japan during World War II, says he salutes the flag everyday while clutching the railing for support.

'It's the one thing I can cling to. Yet at my capacity, there's not much I can do. But I can honor our flag,' he told CBS DFW.

'We are doing everything in our power to find the suspects that committed this cowardly assault and bring them to justice,' the Kaufman Police Department said.

'This gentleman is a hero to our officers and the city's residents should be extremely proud to have him as part of our community.'

Banks retraces his steps to the pole, where he came face-to-face with the would-be thief

The veteran salutes the flag everyday in honor of the country's servicemen

He told responding officers that his flags have been vandalized in the past. Someone reportedly cut them down, shredded the American flag and threw the U.S. Marine flag in the ditch, but he never reported the crimes.

Banks admits he'd like to apply his own brand of justice when the culprits are caught. 'If there's any way to catch them and was able to do so, I'd like to whoop them good with my crutch.'

Banks' family is now planning to install cameras around the house, police said.