I know this post is old but Thank you for sharing @Jdevleerjr and others. Gets me mixd up emotionally- my Pop was the youngest of 16, 5 of his older brothers served in WW2, his father-in-law, along with 3 of his brothers'-in-law(that come to mind off the top of my head). I was fortunate enough to have known 4 of his brothers and 2 of the in-laws who served, I was told from a young age that you don't ask about "it"- the war experiences. Hence That quote of yours, "While I did have conversations before he passed about his time as a fighter pilot, he really only told me about his training, and not about the war. I knew he was a POW but never asked him about it. He passed in 2000.", specifically resonated with me. When one of my great-uncle's was in the hospital- the 3rd oldest brother, and we didn't know if he'd pull through, I did ask his thoughts on war- just in general- I'll never forget the look on his face as he said with conviction how, "it was so stupid and unnecessary" regarding it's causes- sad things that should've never risen in the first place. He wasn't saying that it was stupid and unnecessary from the U.S. perspective to get involved, he knew that the axis had to be stopped, but he also knew if things had been different btwn. the wars there wouldn't have been a need for it. Hence the unnecessary and stupid parts.
The reich generally treated British, French and American POWs better than prisoners on the eastern front. That said, this account still goes to show that it was by no means easy for our POWs in Europe. Of the 5 of my pop's brothers- one got bombed in a squad car, one a medic shot in the heel, the other 3 no injuries. My great-uncle who had been in that squad car had a terrible case of shell shock. Even upon his return home, he was despondent, had boils on one side of his face. My pop said that for 6 months he just sat in the front room listening to opera. Of all of them, I believe he had the hardest time moving forward but he did so none-the-less.
In 8th grade I interview My great-uncle Joe- my pop's brother in-law, who served in the Pacific, as someone I viewed as a hero. He was rather open about his experiences. He lost 2 of his brothers. He talked to me with such a kind, gentle cadence and expression on his face. Indeed, all of them always were that way. Almost as if they'd seen or experienced so many terrible things that they somehow either "turned-it around" or carried themselves that way because they'd seen the worst of it, and anything after paled in comparison to the fortitude they had. I wish I still had a chance to ask them and wish my memory was better. I miss and love them all, I'm so thankful they were part of my lives and thankful for their service. I'm thankful to my Pop and his 3 brothers for their service in the 60s. And I'm thankful to my Pop that he relayed this family history to me, taught me the way to respect a soldier, told me his stories and stories of them, and for teaching me so much in general. I love and miss them all.
