That's why I love how a combined force of the Persians and Babylonians crushed the Assyrian empire, especially wasting their capital Nineveh. A fitting payback for the sons of bitches.

War cruelty has always been an issue, and some happen by mistakes, like the experience of your uncle. And so far the warmongering nature continues to get the better of the human species, gruesome acts will continue to be committed in wars. No convention, no union will suffice to tame the wild aspect of our nature. Reason may keep it restrained for the time being, but that's just it.

Your uncle was obviously a survivor, but the experience left his life in a mess. The sad thing is that the government doesn't care much about other servicemen and women with the same experience.