FORT BRAGG, N.C. — A recent Army survey conducted among combat arms soldiers indicates that humor involving the weight and sexual proclivities of soldiers’ mothers was 62 percent funnier if the mother in question was dead.

“This report really confirms what a lot of our respondents have known to be true for quite some time,” lead researcher Dr. Phil Morgan told Duffel Blog. “The quality of data collected also shines an important light on the sort of coping mechanisms used by troops with the most dangerous jobs in the military. In the end, we’re hoping this will help service a huge number of troops.”

“Your mom helped service a huge number of troops,” added Research Assistant Adam Douglas.

“Gallows humor, or ‘galgenhumor’ as it was originally coined by the Germans, has long been associated with military service,” Dr. Morgan continued. “In many instances, soldiers learn to cognitively re-frame hardship and use it to their benefit, and sometimes pleasure. You can really look at this as an example of Army Values like duty and personal courage.”