We were being kind to him and giving him the benefit of the doubt and a bucket full of tolerance as per usual

It is Howards modus operandi to lob a grenade in and retire for a day or so - this time he chose unwisely as any old soldier is just as likely to pick it up and throw it back in the originators foxhole and Tom would have done just that reading that address of his.
Trying to belittle Tom's efforts as he was is not the thing to do at all and it displays a weakness to attention grab.