I just saw the movie again after a long time. Are we to believe the Colonel lived high on the hog in his glory days, or is he putting on heirs? Are the names he drops really people in NYC he used to know?
Also, bonus question: When it come out how the Colonel was blinded, why was a Colonel teaching grenadesmanship? Isn’t that the work of a drill sergant?
The colonel wanted to eat in a nice hotel, dance with Gabriel Anwar, drive a Ferarri, etc before he blew his own brains out.
He was juggling grenades showing off, not teaching. I would assume they were actually flash-bangs or practice grenades as he was merely blinded and not vaporized.
The question was not about the current plot, but about Colonel Slade before he was retired. I would say that he did know those people. His rank was pretty high and he had been considered for general. I don’t see any reason to doubt him.
You could tell by his clothing, and his knowledge of where to find a first class tailor that he had some bucks. Colonels can probably move in any circles that they choose, having tremendous power, although, that is a bit above my level. I know a few and they are extremely well connected.