Soddim,
It is not the remembrance of past glories that is the issue....more like the pompous piece of fecal matter that was a total tosser in the mob....carrying on like he was something else while outside the mob. Thus far...when someone tells me of their "rank"...without being asked....it only goes to identify a real wan.ker.
Somehow I find a Private's service no less noble than that of someone with Flag rank. As it was said one time....victory was achieved by the "guts" behind a bayonet.
If the guy wants to use his former rank...who cares what rank he was....what matters is what kind of soldier was he. I still don't understand why a former British employer would never use my postscripts as they did one of their own....all I rated was an "Esq." despite telling them of my VD with Scar.