My earliest memories of my grandfather were of a huge, always teasing, gravel voiced person. I was 5 or 6. There was a several decade gap in our relationship due to moving a lot. When we got back on visiting terms, he would tell stories to my boys and I. He would talk of Colonel Merrill, and their exploits. One day I was watching the History Channel, and saw an episode about Merrill's Marauders. H o l y s h i t. . . . I always kinda knew that grandpa had been a bad ass. But, after watching the episode. . . . and learning of their accomplishments. . . . all doubt was removed. In his prime, he was 6' 5" @ 350lbs. Even in his 80s, he still weighed 225ish. He would always talk how they f**ked with the Japanese, and stole their food. Come to find out, most of his stories were very likely understatements. I don't think the war had effected him. Grandpa, a Catholic, had read the Bible, The Book of Mormon, and the Koran. I'm curious what his comments would be on the country's current state of affairs. He never went looking for trouble, but he didn't walk away from it either.