Around the corner in my neighborhood, we had one of the last survivors of Iwo Jima. A USMC Vet. named Vic. The stories that he told would make you shiver and cry at the same time. He was very proud to serve his country and he didn't have any bad feelings post war. The two vehicles he and his wife drove were a late 60's VW Bug and a '71 Toyota Land Cruiser. Well used and lovingly cared for.
At our annual neighborhood potlucks, him and I would start to talk about Land Cruisers, I had a '73 at that time. Every once in a while he would let slip a "the Japs this or the Japs that", and his wife would always tell him to stop it. He would look at me and say, sorry Steve. Since I'm half Japanese, I always told him, don't worry about Vic, you grew up in a different time.
I stopped taking offense to it when I was in Elementary School because my Dad (USMC Vet) told me that if I didn't like it, do something about it. So sometimes you gain respect through physical contact on the playground. And then become friends.
Sadly he passed away a few years ago. And I think that the whole neighborhood went to service.
Rest In Peace Vic M.