Kelly’s heroes was actually a rather stupid make believe movie set in WW2. And Sutherland’s character looking like a hippie in a tanker uniform didn’t help.
WW2 vets I knew that served in Europe felt that way, and I repected them.
Hogan’s Heroes, 1965-‘71, The Producers, 1967, and Kelly’s Heroes, 1970, marked a time when humor could be found in pop culture expressions of the events 20-25 years previous.
I should clarify: my father-in-law (B-24 waist gunner, DFC) had a brother that was a tank commander under Patton in Europe. His brother supposedly told my fil he never saw any tanker that looked even remotely like Suntherland did in that movie.
Although my fil admitted the movie had it funny moments, it was just so far fetched.