Frank, that generation had kids playing high school football without face masks, kids boxed in junior high school phys ed class, there were no "courtesy runners" for kids in youth league baseball who are too obese to run to 1st base. If you were seen driving down the street with a deer strapped to the hood of your car, no one would faint or call 911. Life was tougher in general, people were more in tune with basic needs for survival.
BTW, they were also the last generation with enough gumption to pull together and win a major war. They will also someday be known as the last generation of ours' capable of accomplishing same.