That was an era where top brass can be eccentric without getting into trouble. In WW1 MacArthur used to run out to the field without a helmet or gas mask, wearing only his crumbled cap. Then there's Patton who wears the laquered helmet everywhere, wears a non-standard issue ivory-handled sidearm, and brings his dog to the front lines. Oh and back to MacArthur with his cob pipe that was as large as his ego. And I'm sure there were many other examples that make Alexander's case trivial
