They (we) don't call them "The Greatest Generation" for nothing. All my dad's brothers served in either the Army or the Corp of Engineers during WWII. My Dad was the 7th of 9 children (8 boys) and the only one that served in Korea from 1952-53, section chief for a battery of 105mm cannons.
Whenever I would whine about how cold it was on the farm, he would laugh and say "This ain't cold. You should have been in Korea."
Jan 29th was the 15 anniversary of his passing, and I still miss him... 
Watched a program last night on the Black fighter pilots that risked arm and leg to become fighter pilots in WW2.
Damn what they in a segregated military went through to serve their country. Biggest problem for them was the brass that gave them no or little recognition or worked to make them have the same help as the White pilots. Perhaps this is why the Black pilots achieved as much or more then the pilots that were favored. They sure showed us, and the Brass.
Not to mention the American Japanese that served our Country and did so with Valor while their family's were in dentition camps all their lives ripped apart every darn thing they had worked for generations stolen by the government their sons were fighting for.
Not so strange as in my generation I watched Rickover and his battle to just graduate from Annapolis. The page on his class graduation was perforated so it could be removed. Damn a JEW as an officer, unheard of. He won't amount to much.
Strange the history of the military, for years a Catholic officer was the last to be promoted. Surprised the Hell out of me as a civilian to read about this years after the fact. [ Or is this still going on in one shape or form that is not talked about? ]
New page in History, the Muslims and their raise to the top ranks in the military. The civilian life Bankers, Doctors, Lawyers and every thing that life brings to us.
Only Years will tell of how the Muslims will preform, as it did for the Blacks, Jews, Japanese and the German and Italian Americans.
Latinos, if we have a draft, be they Illegal or not will be swept up, how will they preform. How to set up a boot camp and keep the city gangs separated from one another. This was a major problem for the Nam war.
Much goes on, religious problems for the Military, I can not imagine a Sub closing in on an enemy at the 5 time a day down time to pray. Fire fights in the ME and in the middle half the company has to stop, prostrate and pray ??
This one will be interesting, Pentagon and a emergency where the top brass is called in for a conference and 1/4 of the brass stop listening and throw themselves on the floor to pray.
Dad was right, when one goes into the military they leave behind all but to protect the country. They bring with them their faith in God, this is personal, no one else cares about their belief, and love of family and the do or die for country and loved ones.
Korea was a bitch, still is, had Truman not have been so jealous, MacArthur would have lambasted past the 38 parall and Korea perhaps would not today be facing down the North under insane leaders.
The greatest Generation did not just serve in WW2, the youngsters that went in at the last year or months of the end went on to Korea and Nam. Hell of a bunch of Men and Woman.
So why are our returning Veterans with out jobs or education today, what happend to the GI benefits to educate them and, OH yes the Veteran has to put part of their slim pay into an account to pay for benefits when they get out, if they get out alive.
Back to the past for those that are paid dirt cheep for their lives, we as Americans OWE them a free education, as the least we can do for their protection and lives on the line for us.