An interesting article from Illinois notes the return of a local Army unit from Afghanistan, and focuses on the spiritual support sought by both the troops and their families:

Army Spc. Brian Peters witnessed firsthand what is meant by the familiar adage, “There are no atheists in foxholes…”  A noncommissioned officer he was with began praying during a firefight last year.  “I saw it right there on the battlefield,” Peters said. “We were in a ditch taking sniper fire.”

This suggests people often will appeal to a higher power when their lives are on the line even if they consider themselves atheists.

Several families also noted the importance of local churches in Read more