[aruanan]

That is what I tend to think really happened. The reason for the hypothetical is that I wonder if given my scenario, Rassman would still be floating in the river.

Oh, yeah, as in:

"He fell off? Oh, crap."

"Well, everyone's still back there. Someone will pick him up."

"Yeah, but how will that make me look? I guess we gotta go back."

Versus:

At the time: "He fell off? He wouldn't want us to endanger our mission by going back deep into hostile enemy fire all alone.

The evolved 2004 version:

"He was hit with an RPG and blown off the boat. And I was not going to endanger my men by going back deep into hostile enemy fire without adequate support to try to collect the pieces."

[Enterprise]

Good post - and that version is possible!