I think that everything in his life was viewed through the lens of the war. It was the most significant event of his life and understandably so. It was one of the most significant events of the 20th century.

My mother told me a story about when they went to France for the 60th anniversary of the invasion. They went to the museum and the cemetery and all the other sights to be seen. But when they went to the shore they were walking down the beach and he began sobbing uncontrollably.

Some time later he told me that for much of his life he felt guilty because he got to come home and so many men he knew and met didn't.