I had an adopted Uncle that landed first wave at Iwo Jima . I saw him many times shirtless and in the early 70s Corps tropical shorts , I don't recall a single scar . 6'2" 220# of Marine . He spoke occasionally of his times and deeds and what he did to "reconcile" that . He had a heart as big as .......... I don't think there was a thing he wouldn't have done for my Dad or us . As kind and gentle a man as I've known . Unfortunately like so many of the really great people I've known in my life he was taken too soon . Cancer reduced him to 97# and took him in about 6 months in 78' .
My Dad intended to stay with him at the end but Bing had a way about him . "Rich ain't it hunting season ?" , "Well yeah but I wanted to be here ." Bing didn't call my Dad Rich he used that other nickname "Rich there's nothing you can do here for me . Go on home and take that boy huntin' . "
That was that , Dad came home and we went hunting . The call came Sunday night . It took Dad several seasons to get over it but we hunted a bunch .
The VN vets I've spent time with come in 2 flavors . Open books and angry isolated men .
My youngest boy came back from Persia in 2010 one of those angry men , he come a long , long way toward the open book .