Believe it or not many of them got excited about the Spanish-American War and joined. It was actually the first thing that brought many southerners back into active participation with the US as a whole. I doubt many of the veterans did though. It was men too young to have served in the struggle for independence.
Regarding France, their military history is impressive as a whole, going back to the early iron age. It is belittled in our culture largely because of our English roots, and that long standing rivalry. French performance is inconsistent though. When they’re hot they’re hot. When they are not . . .
“It is belittled in our culture largely because of our English roots, and that long standing rivalry.”
I never understood the rivalry; Celtic England was replaced by Saxon England, who in turn were replaced by Norman rule (though their language remained as “English”).
I guess everyone’s performance is inconsistent at one time or another in terms of war.