 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?
World War III had been declared, and he had enlisted, receiving his old rank of captain. Three days later they had landed in Spain, merged with another division, then crossed the Pyrenees into France, and finally to Paris where the fighting had begun. The Russians had not yet used the H-bomb; the threat of annihilation by the retaliation forces had been too great. Most of the cities and the majority of the population of both countries had been destroyed. They were alone now, a group of tired, battered men, for whom life held nothing. Their families had long since died, their bodies turned to dust, their spirits fled on the winds to a new world.
 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.