Good morning DollyCali. You have started me thinking about my dad, step dad and FIL.
My dad, Ray, was in Panama running radar during the war. It wasn't really bad duty, as my mom and older sister were allowed to go to Panama with him.
As far as I knew, neither my Father in law, Walter nor my step dad, Jim were in the armed services. Then, 4 years ago, shortly before he died, we found out that my father in law worked on the Manhattan Project (his 2nd wife blabbed) We were astonished and asked him about it. The only thing he ever said to us was "that's secret". That is literally the only two words he ever said about it.
We went back home, and talked about how amazing it was. Told my step dad all about it, and how he had never said a word.
Last September my step dad Jim died. His brother, while we were at the funeral, told us that Jim had worked on the Manhattan Project. I was flabbergasted!!! The snot never said a word to me, even when I was talking about my FIL!
Those guys knew how to keep a secret.
I cant help wonder if it had to do with secrecy (it was well after declassification, I would guess) or maybe rather embarrassment that so many were killed from bomb...etc. Not all say "war is war" as we well know. They may have thought it better to say nothing than chance the assault/scrutiny they might receive from others
Here is Wikipedia's INFO on the Manhattan Project,