What do you mean we don't have a custom of bowing? Europe has developed hundreds of forms of bowing over the centuries. It's just that bowing among common men wasn't as common, but if you were to meet any form of gentry or noble, you can be certain some form of prostration or bowing would happen, and that said bowing would vary according to region.
This is a poor analysis because war with the communists was and is always inevetable, far more so than you focussing on the US. (Still admire our cultural similarities despite the geografical width and you replacing our friendship for the french :) Grüsse aus unserer Heimat mein freund