[GingisK]

I grew up in the 50s/60s. My male teachers were vets. All of the men at church were vets. Our Cub/Boy Scout leaders were vets. The telephone installer was a vet. My merit badge counselors were all vets.

I grew up under remarkable tutelage.

We also had a rather abundant supply of cool stuff at the local army surplus store. That includes dummy mortar shells to oxygen masks. In high school I had an incredible shortwave receiver ... it came from a B-17. I had an gyro platform from a B-29. We even had field telephones and a battalion switchboard.