The war was over and Howe had been given his medals and pay and been sent home to his wife and child.
He had made them up, some time after the first week, when all the others had been talking about husbands and wives and children and family.
Howe didn't even have a dog longing for his eventual return. He hadn't made one of those up, though he'd debated it.
Instead Howe had his drafty rented room, which thankfully hadn't been cleared of his meager belongings. With his pay, he could move, once he found somewhere...
Maybe he'd get a dog.