[babyface00]

He joined the military when he was in his late 30s

Was the age of enlistment younger then? These days you can forget the military after about 35, I think, which to me always seemed odd as 30-somethings are in better physical and financial shape these days then at any time in history.

[babyface00]

" age of enlistment younger" should read "maximum age of enlistment older".

[kms61]

My great-uncle was a forty year old draftee in WWII. I think that was pretty rare, but it did happen.