Tom crossed the line long ago from admirer to worshiper, and of an entire generation.

Maybe a lost cultural value, but I doubt it - these people did not choose these challenges, but did (in most cases) rise to them.

Unfortunately, like many others, Tom fails to tip his hat to the tremendous efforts and sacrifices made long before we showed up for WWII; instead pandering to the belief that there was no world war before we got there.

This view of history, started with WWI, has caused far more resentment among our allies than we ever allow for.