This piece was colorful, engaging, and sentimentally interesting..
kept my attention All the way..
you sure can tell a story...'-)

That being said, here is this:

"We should think carefully about the reality of war. Most of us have been conditioned to regard military combat as exciting and glamorous-an opportunity for men to prove their competence and courage. Since armies are legal, we feel that war is acceptable; in general, nobody feels that war is criminal or that accepting it is criminal attitude. In fact, we have been brainwashed. War is neither glamorous nor attractive. It is monstrous. Its very nature is one of tragedy and suffering."

-the Dalai Lama

PS;
To my view, the he who ducked out was not a he at all, but an it...the dark force of the icy heart of the invading dark force..

just sayin'......