Elbow deep in college, Hawkeye hardly paid attention to the war in Europe. An ocean away, it was a world away to him -- his life was textbooks, papers, exams, not war, death, killing.
When America joined the fighting, Hawkeye couldn't ignore it completely. He rationed and rallied along with the rest, but could not find his heart in it. At best he found only guilt in not feeling as proud and loving as he should.
Years later, sitting in the Swamp, Hawkeye prays for the boy stateside who feels no love or pride, praying that he would never change.