Well PTSD often renders tough men to utter tears and break downs. Its not about how tough he is. Many people with PTSD can't sleep very well. They tend to see the faces of dead people in the dark corners of the room. They have unexplained panic attacks. So, in my opinion, being a soldier and...
The only advantage of a new language, unless you really love doing that sort of thing, is it might help build the cultures and the world. The elves in LOTRs have a flowing language, the dwarves a harsh one. It gave the nations uniqueness.
Use eastern Europe as an advantage. Not many people know of the states, nations or peoples there during the Middle Ages and they have fun names like Magyars.