 Would the main character had fought as hard in World War III if he knew that his family would not be home when he returned?
Not even forever [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, April 1958. They had no place in the dust-caked, tired body, yet there they were, seeking, always seeking—searching the clear horizon, and never seeming to find what they sought. They were nearing a river; the water would be welcome on tired bodies and dry throats. Then both man and horse plunged headlong into the waiting torrent, deep into the cool embrace of the clear liquid. Refreshed and momentarily content, he sat staring into the dying fire, seeing the bright glowing coals as living fingers clutching at the wood in consuming embrace, taking all and returning nothing but ashes. Images began to appear, drawn from inexhaustible files, wherein are kept all thoughts, past, present, and future.... World War III had been declared, and he had enlisted, receiving his old rank of captain. "It's for you; so long as you wear it, I'll come back, even from the dead, if need be. When he opened it, he found a picture of her in one side, and in the other a picture of the children. He took her in his arms again, and loosened her long, black hair, burying his face in it for a moment.
 No, because he would have nothing to come back home to anyways.
 No, because he would be too devastated to fight.  Yes, because he wanted to make sure that he and his men won World War III.  No, because he would have nothing to come back home to anyways.  Yes, because he was adamant on surviving World War III.