http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuple20I2vs
I have read some history-enough to know that a lot of the “war stories” I hear (at too many Officer/NCO Clubs and VFW and American Legion bars) are crap. My experience is that the more a guy talks about it the more likely he didn’t do it (as far as combat goes). Also the longer a man tells the story the more he actually believes it. A barber in Mena Arkansas insisted he was a “Flying Tiger” fighting in China before Pearl Harbor, and, although he was a SSG, was Gen. Chennault’s’ personal pilot! When I questioned him he got mad and said I wasn’t there so I couldn’t know. I found another barber.
In the mid 90’s I was touring the March AFB, California, Museum (which I recommend) when a volunteer guide told the group, mostly school kids (my son among them), that the Bell P-59 on display (the first operational US Jet) was based on German Technology brought back from the ETO. When I pointed out that, in fact, it was based on British Technology and the contract for its development was let prior to Pearl Harbor, the gentleman become so indignant I was ask to leave.
What these people must remember is that there is always someone out there who DID serve in that paticular conflict etc. Sods Law says that they will be standing next to you when you tell your story!!
My dad who was a navy veteran, never talked about combat. He told a lot of stories about shoreleave and the fun side of serving. One of our neighbors was in the same destroyer squadron has my dad. He’d spin these tales, he might as well have defeated the German navy by himself. He’d leave, and my dad would call him a lying bastard. “I was there.” He’d say. It was funny.