The WWII people grew up in hard times and knew no others. They did what they had to do and accepted sacrifice for more than themselves. Not all to be sure but 75-80% where in today's generation you'd be hard pressed to find 10-15% willing do what they did. That war was fought up close and personal. We think in terms of drones, smart weapons, air strikes they thought in terms of small arms, arty, flame throwers and knew it could come down to a brutal slegfest.
My father recounted how he watched men drop around him left and right as he went to and across the beach. Friends lost in a second. Worse he said later in the war they landed on another island and suffered zero losses on landing. Not even a shot. He said the wait was worse than being shot at. Then it started. Slugfest for every inch. These men were determined to get the job done without fail. I fear we are not up to that measure. I hope we never have to find out again.
