When my oldest brother was in Viet Nam in 1968 he learned and spoke fluent Vietnamese. If that happened today these ******* righties would persecute him and ask questions later.
I guess I could have learned to speak fluent Vietnamese too --
If I had nothing else to do. You know -- Like kill communists?
I bet you're proud
Nobody learns a language to speak it fluently in a short time, especially under adverse conditions, such as war. Of course, the person who claims to speak a language fluently, can claim that to someone who has no way of knowing that claim's validity.
Also, the deserter's father spoke in smattering Pashtu, claiming he did so, because his son forgot to speak English, when he encouraged the bastard to follow his conscience or such.
Nobody forgets his mother tongue in five years.