What kind of a person would you call this?

I was thinking that he sounds detached. No one goes through trauma unaffected. The person learns to detach from situations so that they can deal with the trauma and drama of life. It is like a form of denial, a way of protecting the brain from the pain and horror of life. I am glad you admire your Uncle, you should, we should, but be careful to keep your eyes open. People sometimes get PTSD long after an event, and some people put on a brave front while others are around, but fall apart when no one is looking. I am not trying to be negative, just be careful not to put him in a position where he isn't entitled to fall apart. Positive people, hero's, they are needed to inspire us all, but give them a break, the mind can only take so much pain. If he doesn't deal with the issues he has witnessed, it could come out in other ways. He could have weight issues, health issues, ulcers, high blood pressure, nightmares, there are ways that the body reacts when a person doesn't deal with the pain of life. I served with a man in the military and he was telling me how he had to be strong for his family, like the rock you mentioned, but he still needed to fall apart. He felt he had to hide when he needed to cry, because his family had him so high on a pedestal. He felt shame because he needed to cry when his baby grandsons died. He had to be strong for his wife and daughter, but he felt sad that the babies died too, and no one let him grieve too. Be proud of your Uncle, you have a right to be proud of him, but give him a break and be a shoulder for him to cry on when he gets to that place in life. peace be with you.