Well he must have been lucky. Despite all his misdeeds. @TAB 

My ex husband complained about his dad (also in US Airforce) wasting family money on stock market back in the states, but then when he retired he could not resist having a go... And losing...

Yes, ex also did the Protestant work ethic number on me while working me into the ground and disability, cos my family had been Catholic. Grandfather in WWII Labour camp. Hope your lot were not billeted out at our family place in last year of the war. Oh the irony is layered on in my history. 

So we try and negotiate for respect, but tired of being played for a fool.