There may have been a chance to validate his decision to "take himself out" so that he wouldn't have to eat cereal again? IF that is what you guys always do, maybe then he wasn't assuming the worst, he was just assuming that was what was going to happen?
Forgive me if I am way off base!
M48 H53 M16 T18 S16 D13 SS30 H drops bomb PA/8-30-09 H leaves 12-30-09 D filed by H 2-10 H asks to come home 4-11 Piecing