For many, it caused a change of underpants sooner than intended, also.
With regard the "religion" bit, there were many who turned-up for church parade at sea, who wouldn't normally have bothered - for some it was probably the link with home through ritual familiarity, for others it was an insurance policy covering all possible eventualities. Whilst the phrase: "there are no atheists in a foxhole" is a hotly disputed cliche by fervent 'anti-god botherers' I'd argue that many a silent prayer was 'thunk', if not uttered.