BS”D
67, as brave as they were, they were drafted soldiers following orders. At home, they could have been the worst bigots, the most dishonest of men, the most violent wife-beaters, but once drafted they became part of something bigger than they were which was ordered to do something.
Anyone who has been in a situation where there is a crowd mentality, which, I am the first to admit, includes being part of a Jewish community, knows that following the crowd just about comes naturally, even when it comes to something you would not ordinarily want to do.
It is those who do right when they are ordered to do wrong, or those who do good when living in a society where evil is considered right, who are the ones truly worthy of admiration.
Oh, and some of those soldiers were Jewish: ” The American cemetery, in Colleville-sur-Mer, contains row upon row of identical white crosses and Stars of David, immaculately kept, commemorating the American dead.:” (Wiki which I assume is correct in this case).