From a WWII vets view I can think of many instances where waterboarding could have/might have saved some USA service men lives. The Germans were at times gruesome as to treatment of captives after they, the Germans, were sure no useful info was needed. The Japs were also very favorable to any means to extract battle info and I know that US GIs at times were to engrossed in battle to worry about the lives of the enemy. War is hell and I think people in struggle for their lives or beliefs of survival will look at torture in their own personal perspective.
My father and sibling served. The only reason I was denied (despite my efforts) enlistment was due to a preexisting medical condition.
We were raised on war stories as well as marathon war documentaries and films. Although I have not witnessed first hand the horrors of war, I have seen it through the eyes of my father, sibling, uncles, friends, as well as those accounts captured on film.
I don’t believe this issue is an easy one to tackle.
BTW, thank you for serving our country.