My grandma re married a guy who was older, dude was super chill and a hell of a guy. He was at Normandy and remained the same after too.
All the guys I know my age who are combat vets are a total mess now. They all regret enlisting.
One of them just yesterday showed up to work drunk to drive a dump truck and he’s been drunk all week. It’s a small company, his brothers work there and his parents live down the road and we know them too. It’s to the point where an intervention is in the works with his parents and the owner.
I think the people like your grandpa felt validated after as they should be.