From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
The first use of the statement "There are no atheists in foxholes" has been traced to Lieutanant-Colonel William J. Clear in a story of Bataan's final weeks, delivered during the "Army Hour" program over the NBC Red (Radio) Network in 1942. It was apparently intended to mean that many atheists find their commitment to the philosophy of atheism challenged under the stress of combat and seek the solace of childhood beliefs.
The statement may also have been technically true during WWII because atheism could not be specified as a religious preference in official documentation. Some atheists apparently listed "Buddhist" as the best alternative.
The statement has since been used (rarely) as a canard to imply that US atheists are unpatriotic or disloyal or do not join or support the military. This usage frequently elicits responses from atheists who have served in the military. Statistically, atheists serve in the military services and are injured or killed in numbers proportional to their representation in the civilian population.
