What kind of accent does Stewart have? I've always just assumed it was a theatrical affectation that he used, not that he sounded like that all the time.
Anyway, the list of actors (and politicians, teachers, farmers, lawyers, and everything) who survived extreme mortal peril through WW2 is veeeeery long. Greatest Generation was an earned label for sure.
And despite 20 years of war (for americans at least) the total number of troops involved is tiny compared to WW2.