My Dad was WWII a combat vet. USMC. He was wounded on Okinawa after 45 days of battle.
Then when he had recovered, the war was over. He was out of the military before his 20th birthday.
He did not tell his children war stories. He died young, at age 69.
Something I missed, was being able to hear him finally tell about his WWII days. I know he told my mother a lot. They were dating while he was in the service, and before he died they went to Hawaii to see where he was stationed during his recovery.
I know during the months before he died, he realized he would not grow old, like this vet. My father loved and respected his own father, who lived to age 86. The old Swedish cowboy from Wyoming.