As what the vet told me was "peculiar as hell", I, apparently like your father decided to carry specifics to my grave but it was your fathers use of the term 'peculiar as hell' that caused me to affirm his assessment.
He served his country; he should have SOME privacy left.
My dad was a pretty good judge of character, though! (and anybody who thinks he's a reincarnation of some ancient general or other is definitely tilting towards the 'peculiar' column).