Infantry work was days of boredom broken by a few moments of intense struggle for life. Dealing with injuries and deaths of friends was difficult and no one knew for certain how to release the tension. Sick humor was the most used and socially accepted method. Tears were the other way to release this tension but were not as acceptable. An outsider would have been shocked at the sick humor in times of sorrow but it was taken as “normal behavior” in combat units.