Popular culture is inclined toward superlatives and celebrity. Tom Brokow has written a book entitled The Greatest Generation. He has warmed some hearts.
Individuals vary much within every generation.
Every generation has those who muddle through events doing the best they can. Every generation has its hard drivers, its bright people, its feckless and its criminals. . Brokow is describing the people who fought World War II as heroes. The truly heroic usually do not like special attention because they did not do what they did for the sake of attention. Perhaps we should celebrate everyone who gets up in the morning and struggles with the world without making an ass of himself.