Was Major 'Patience' part of the escort party and were any regular troops within earshot of the conversation?
I don't want to be critical of your account but I'm having trouble understanding who said what to who.
Major Patience works with me, went to chow and sat at a table with Al and his escorts. Al and his civilian table mates were having a discussion, then Major Patience asked his question and the result was the anti-war statements I posted.