[Joe 6-pack]

"I'm not sure if it was their exposure to hard times and trauma or what...but most of these guys did not govern like the warriors they were (even McCain)..."

I suspect that largely it had more to do with depression era childhoods than wartime experience. They simply wanted their kids to have things better than they did, and in many cases, went way overboard.

[oh8eleven]

They simply wanted their kids to have things better than they did, and in many cases, went way overboard.
I was the oldest of six kids, and I can tell you for a fact, my parents (both WWII vets) did NOT go overboard! :)
You also have to remember the post-WWII consumerism that was shoved down everyone's throats.