My parents did! - Given the mundane existence of the '30s, the '40s came alive! Yes, there was, sadly, danger and death but living on the edge is a particular high for some.
My brothers were born during the war, and my parents made it seem real, too, talking about sugar and gasoline rationing, working in a torpedo factory, friends missing in action - but I don't think they ever felt nostalgia or excitement for those years. Their tone was more one of weariness when they remembered those times. But I think I understand what you're saying - it was a very unique time in our history and the men and women who lived through it had amazing stories to tell.
Wow, reading that comment now makes me wonder why I was so negative when I wrote it. Yes, my parents did talk about the hard times during the war, but they also had good memories of the decade when they married and started their family.
No doubt for many, especially in the United States or Great Britain that didn't see the worst of the fighting, the 1940s were the most exciting and purpose filled decade of their lives.
I might just be a little too critical, but I feel like accepting "Bird" as an answer to the question, "What bebopping saxophonist was known as 'Bird'?" may just be a bit too easy...
more so than the dull history books depicting the era.