The plot thickens.

After noticing that some airfares for that trip had dropped, I checked the reservation.

I *WAS* on the Dawn Patrol flight HSV-DFW, AA 175 DFW-NRT, and the JL codeshare to BKK.

Now I'm on the morning flight HSV-ORD, AA 153 ORD-NRT, and the JL flight, and I've gone from 4 hours on the ground at NRT to 1 1/2 hours, which is pushing it, depending on arrival and departure gate assignments.

Further investigation showed that the Saturday Dawn Patrol flight to DFW had been cancelled. There apparently now is NO Saturday flight HSV-DFW that allows connection to the DFW-NRT flights.