So we go back to the original post, countering a back-handed slap at “the Americans” not being involved in the ‘Great Escape’, uttered by a British vet. My position was and is correct, that it is getting real old listening to every anti-American, anti-U.S. military statement being made on such a regular basis. This guy’s comment was just more of the same, with the underlying notion being a lack of proper recognition for the U.S. Military’s contribution to WWII. He’s not even alive today but for our military. Which is my original point, his own “escape” was facilitated by our military and our citizenry’s contributions to their war effort.
I saw it as a comment from a man who was there and how the silliness of Steve McQueen riding off on a motorcycle seemed to make light of the situation.
My father's business partner (both of them RIP) was shot down over Germany and was 'saved' by the Gestapo from being killed by villagers with pitchforks. He spent a few years in a POW camp. He was deeply offended by Hogan's Heroes for making light of something that was very serious to him. He, and the British vet at the center of the discussion, had a perspective shaped by the reality of the situation, not by Hollywood's desire to snare a better audience for its shows.
I'm surprised a freeper would have such difficulty with that notion. There is no reason for the British vet to deliver a paean to American involvement in WW2 when discussing the Steve McQueen motorcycle scene of the Great Escape.