[xoxoxoBruce]

Pre/during WW II there was no TV and of course no Youtube. War, and the exploits of soldiers were only available from books, comic books, radio, movies and newsreels. Of course many had the war stories of WW I vets, but that war was very different. Actually the brass wasn't that much better prepared, because of how war was waged evolved so much between 1939 and 1945.

So enlistees/draftees had no idea what they were in for. But when the ramp on the landing craft dropped, or the jumpmaster yelled GO, they did their best. I doubt many soldiers hitting the beach or fighting door to door through a town, were thinking how much they were doing it for democracy. More likely his thoughts were how to kill the enemy, before the enemy killed him or his buddies. Maybe a few moments wishing he was home getting laid.

Anyone going into the military today has plenty of resources to learn what they're getting into. It won't be a complete picture there will always be surprises, shit nobody mentioned. But at least the John Wayne/Audie Murphy image should be tempered.