In the show, there are references to Red serving at Guadalcanal, Okinawa, Iwo Jima, the European theater, and later in the Korean War. The show says he was 17 at enlistment.
I don't doubt there are plenty of veterans from both WWII & Korea, but would one soldier seeing so much battle be possible? 3 major pacific battles, and time in Europe, and service in Korea?
Part of me feels like the writers weren't sure what war to make him a veteran of. His WWII service was mentioned only in the first couple seasons, and in the seasons following only his service in Korea is mentioned.
Not that improbable, though it does depend a bit on exactly which battles are being claimed.
I don’t watch the show, but apparently Mr Forman was supposedly in the Navy. All it would take would be a posting on the right ship. For example, USS Alabama kicked off in Europe, going as far North East as around Norway, looking for the German BB Tirpitz. August 43, she went to the Pacific, and finished off the war there. USS Texas was in Europe from 42 on, staying through Sept 44 partaking in Torch, Overlord and Dragoon before moving to the Pacific. Both ships decomissioned at the end of the war, so if CPO Forman stayed in the Navy, he could have been reassigned to, say, Iowa, which saw service in Korea. That’s the big ships, doubtless Many smaller vessels or logistic ships saw service in all three area. For example, I could easily see a landing ship used in in Pacific, Atlantic and Korea. (Such may, for example, also explain any time spent ashore)
Although the Red Forman character was in the Navy, would such extensive experience have been possible in any other arm of the services?