There are no athiests in foxholes?

[Sheepshank]

War made my parents become atheists (or at least agnostic). One fought in a war, and one was in a war zone.....both in Europe. Both are libs. Guy in the neighborhood came home from Afghanistan.....won't go to church.

I wonder if political leaning makes this more true for RW or LW in war zones?

[Taverner]

1. When I was in a life and death situation, I didn't think of God. If anything, life was more sacred

Than anything with a "do over" button

[alcibiades_mystery]

2. I've never taken the phrase to refer to religion proper so much as to superstition

It would probably be rendered better as "Everybody under fire is superstitious." Whether that means praying to God or simply banging out a little mantra that "keeps you safe," the effect is the same. The phrase basically means that facing the randomness of modern warfare is largely unthinkable in situ.