WHAT IS IT WITH SO MANY PEOPLE HE KNEW WHO WENT MIA/KIA WHO JUST SHOW BACK UP

In other words: hell yes. I like this. Honestly, him and Thorin were probably something of a team at this rate, what with the swords and honor and both being reasonably high ranking officers. Not, I don't think, a good candidate for rivals. So just army buddies would work I believe? Sanger might've also known Thorin's younger brother, who did end up KIA some years ago.