What was the "mindset" for them? And are you looking for generalities, because there were a LOT of veterans with a lot of different thoughts about a lot of different things. What does your question actually mean? I don't think you can possibly get a substantive answer to this question, as vaguely worded as it is.

This subreddit needs an FAQ on how to write a question about history that can actually be answered in the way the subreddit itself demands answers.