Agreed, not an attribute for a hero or real man (assuming that's what you meant). However, the occurrence of that phrase in the article was weird: not a quote, no attribution, out of context. I'll give Smoky the benefit of the doubt.
Well, I'll take off my hat to Smokey. He's a part of living history that is quickly disappearing from the planet. Soon no one alive will be a living testimony to the glory and the horror of WWII. This July 4th, all the WWII vetrans were transported on one flatbed in the parade. I don't think that there were more than 12 or 13 of them.
Soon our Korean vetrans will be passing into the quietness of forever, as well.
Gosh we need our heros. What will we be without them?