Once witnessed a veteran of the Battle of the Bulge being told at ~age 85 that he had lung cancer and not very long to live. He just nodded. The doctor wanted to be sure he really had understood what had just been said. The man replied that he understood but explained that although he survived into old age, the best people he knew died young in Europe. He just stoically accepted the diagnosis. Truly a great man and a privilege to have known him. These noble veterans never forget and often haunting details and memories are known only to them.
The Greatest generation.