extension of Finny and "you can't cry at your own funeral." Gene did enter the war, but he never saw any action, and was never in any fighting, but he realizes, as Brinker pointed out, that when Finny said that the war is just a joke made up by old men, he was right, it is a game, and their sons are playing in that game and they are dyeing not for their country, but for the sins of others. He realized it but didn't believe it, Gene feels that wars are made by "something ignorant in the human heart." Gene was ready for the war now, he was ready to face new problems, new enemies, Finny took problems a little at a time, and that's how Gene has changed-he is taking that same approach also. Hate, anger, fear jealousy, and the enemies in the human heart are gone from Gene now, Finny has taken them with him to his grave....
