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US Military Personnel Deaths During War and Military Operations

Wars and military conflicts have resulted in the deaths of more than 1,316,000 soldiers and military personnel during the history of the United States. November 11th is Veterans Day. Regardless of your politicial affiliation or feelings about war, please remember to honor our military personnel who have sacrificed life and limb during military actions.

Causalties and fatalities do not take into consideration the millions of civilians who lost their lives nor do they take into account suicide deaths related to military service or disabled and wounded soldiers.

As of 11/10/09 at least 4,362 Ameican soldiers and military personnel have died in the War in Iraq. Before this conflict is resolved no one knows how many more United States soldiers and Iraqi civilians will have lost their lives. Recent violence in the Afghanistan region has increased the number of deaths to members of the US military to at least 836 as of 11/10/2009.

Peacetime US Military Fatalities

Thousands of soldiers have died during times of peace and are not included in the numbers below. Peacetime casualties usually occur during military training and exercises’, transportation of troops, accidents, homicide, disease and other causes.

The loss of United States military lives during peacetime and peace keeping while assisting in international conflicts is surprising high. In 1980 almost 2400 American soldiers died while President Jimmy Carter was in office. Just over 17,000 members of the armed forces lost their lives during the years Ronald Regan was Commander and Chief. Under the President Bill Clinton Administration almost 7,500 military casualties were incurred. Even during times of peace many soldiers make the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country.

Wounded and Disabled Veterans

Over 30,000 members of the United States military have been wounded in the War in Iraq, almost 500 during the Persian Gulf War, 155,000 in the Vietnam War, over 100,000 in the Korean War, 672,000 in World War II and 200,000+ in World War I. More than 280,000 Union Soldiers and over 300,000 Confederate Soldiers were injured in the Civil War.

Number of Military Personnel Combat Fatalities In US History

War or Conflict War in Iraq Afghanistan	Dates 2003 - present 2002 - present	Death Totals 4,362 836
Bosnia	1995	12
Somalia	1992 -1993	43
Gulf War	1991	269
Invasion of Panama	1989	40
Invasion of Grenada	1983	19
Beirut	1982 -1984	266
Vietnam War	1964 - 1973	58,169
Korean War	1950 - 1953	36,914
World War 2	1941 - 1945	407,316
World War 1	1917 - 1918	116,708
Haitian Occupation	1915 - 1935	146
Philippine War	1898 - 1902	4,196
Spanish – American War	1898	2,446
Indian Wars	1865 - 1898	919 *
Civil War	1861 - 1865	623,026
Mexican – American War	1846 - 1848	13,283
Second Seminole War	1835 -1842	1,500
War of 1812	1812 - 1815	20,000
Revolutionary War	1775 - 1783	25,000 *

Military historians debate figures marked with *

United States soldiers were also killed in El Salvador, the Boxer Rebellion and various other military conflicts through out US history.

There are no inclusive figures that account for all the men and women who died from war or war related experiences nor can the suffering of their families ever be measured by cold statistics. Additionally millions of civilian lives have been lost during wars through out our military history.

As United States citizens we should all remember and honor those who have served or lost their lives fighting on behalf of the USA.

In 1973 the United Stated ended the draft and manditory military conscription. Since that time serving in the military forces has been on an all volunteer basis.

During the Civil War it was General William Sherman who said, “War is hell”. More than 200 years and 29 US military conflicts later no truer words have ever been spoken.

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