U.S. War Casualties
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Behold the price of freedom...
A casualty is a person who is the victim of an accident, injury, or trauma. The word casualties is most often used by the media to describe deaths and injuries resulting from wars or disasters. Casualties are not necessarily fatalities (deaths). Non-fatal injuries are included in casualty figures.
Casualties include: killed in action (KIA), killed by disease, disabled by physical or mental injuries, captured, deserted, and missing in action (MIA). Less serious wounds that do not prevent a person from fighting are usually not counted as casualties. From 1775 to the present date, there have been thousands of instances for deployment of the U.S. military forces both abroad and domestically. The major wars/conflicts that involved the U.S. are shown below. "KIA" refers to troops killed in action or who died of wounds caused by hostile fire. "Other Deaths" includes deaths from disease, privation, "friendly fire", accidents, and losses among POWs. "Wounded" does NOT include soldiers that contracted a disease. Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin once said, "The death of one person is tragic. The death of a million is a statistic." The numbers on theses charts are far more than "statistics". Each number represents a U.S. soldier who sacrificed his or her life... for YOU. Respect them. Honor them. Thank them. 
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The Purple Heart is a U.S. military decoration awarded in the name of the current Preisent to those who have been wounded or killed while serving in the U.S. military since April 5, 1917.
The precursor to the Purple Heart, the Badge of Military Merit, took the form of a heart made of purple cloth. General George Washington of the Continental Army created the award from his headquarters in New York on August 7, 1782. The badge was awarded to three Revolutionary War soldiers. The Purple Heart is the oldest award still given to members of the U.S. military. 
Badge of Military Merit
Purple Heart
Before World War II (1939-1945), deaths by disease usually outnumbered deaths in combat. Historically, 20-30% of those hit in combat died, a ratio of wounded to killed of about 3:1.
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American Revolution
Duration: 1775-1783 (80 months)
U.S. Soldiers Involved: 217,000
U.S. KIA: 6,824
U.S. Other Deaths: 18,565
U.S. Wounded: 8,445
U.S. Total Casualties: 33,834
U.S. Casualty Percentage: 15.59%
U.S. Casualties per Month: 423
U.S. Soldiers Involved: 217,000
U.S. KIA: 6,824
U.S. Other Deaths: 18,565
U.S. Wounded: 8,445
U.S. Total Casualties: 33,834
U.S. Casualty Percentage: 15.59%
U.S. Casualties per Month: 423
Indian Wars
Duration: 1785-1898 (1,356 months)
U.S. Soldiers Involved: 200,000
U.S. KIA: 2,046
U.S. Other Deaths: 10,916
U.S. Wounded: 6,384
U.S. Total Casualties: 19,347
U.S. Casualty Percentage: 9.67%
U.S. Casualties per Month: 14
U.S. Soldiers Involved: 200,000
U.S. KIA: 2,046
U.S. Other Deaths: 10,916
U.S. Wounded: 6,384
U.S. Total Casualties: 19,347
U.S. Casualty Percentage: 9.67%
U.S. Casualties per Month: 14
Quasi-War
Duration: 1798-1800 (24 months)
U.S. Soldiers Involved: 5,700
U.S. KIA: 20
U.S. Other Deaths: N/A
U.S. Wounded: 42
U.S. Total Casualties: 62
U.S. Casualty Percentage: 1.09%
U.S. Casualties per Month: 3
U.S. Soldiers Involved: 5,700
U.S. KIA: 20
U.S. Other Deaths: N/A
U.S. Wounded: 42
U.S. Total Casualties: 62
U.S. Casualty Percentage: 1.09%
U.S. Casualties per Month: 3
Barbary War I
Duration: 1801-1805 (49 months)
U.S. Soldiers Involved: 480
U.S. KIA: 35
U.S. Other Deaths: N/A
U.S. Wounded: 64
U.S. Total Casualties: 99
U.S. Casualty Percentage: 20.62%
U.S. Casualties per Month: 2
U.S. Soldiers Involved: 480
U.S. KIA: 35
U.S. Other Deaths: N/A
U.S. Wounded: 64
U.S. Total Casualties: 99
U.S. Casualty Percentage: 20.62%
U.S. Casualties per Month: 2
War of 1812
Duration: 1812-1815 (30 months)
U.S. Soldiers Involved: 286,730
U.S. KIA: 2,260
U.S. Other Deaths: 17,205
U.S. Wounded: 4,505
U.S. Total Casualties: 23,970
U.S. Casualty Percentage: 8.36%
U.S. Casualties per Month: 799
U.S. Soldiers Involved: 286,730
U.S. KIA: 2,260
U.S. Other Deaths: 17,205
U.S. Wounded: 4,505
U.S. Total Casualties: 23,970
U.S. Casualty Percentage: 8.36%
U.S. Casualties per Month: 799
Barbary War II
Duration: 1815-1815 (3.5 months)
U.S. Soldiers Involved: 220
U.S. KIA: 10
U.S. Other Deaths: N/A
U.S. Wounded: 21
U.S. Total Casualties: 31
U.S. Casualty Percentage: 14.09%
U.S. Casualties per Month: 9
U.S. Soldiers Involved: 220
U.S. KIA: 10
U.S. Other Deaths: N/A
U.S. Wounded: 21
U.S. Total Casualties: 31
U.S. Casualty Percentage: 14.09%
U.S. Casualties per Month: 9
Mexican-American War
Duration: 1846-1848 (20 months)
U.S. Soldiers Involved: 78,718
U.S. KIA: 1,733
U.S. Other Deaths: 11,550
U.S. Wounded: 4,152
U.S. Total Casualties: 17,435
U.S. Casualty Percentage: 22.15%
U.S. Casualties per Month: 872
U.S. Soldiers Involved: 78,718
U.S. KIA: 1,733
U.S. Other Deaths: 11,550
U.S. Wounded: 4,152
U.S. Total Casualties: 17,435
U.S. Casualty Percentage: 22.15%
U.S. Casualties per Month: 872
Civil War
Duration: 1861-1865 (48 months)
U.S. Soldiers Involved: 3,263,363
U.S. KIA: 214,938
U.S. Other Deaths: 412,340
U.S. Wounded: 509,316
U.S. Total Casualties: 1,136,594
U.S. Casualty Percentage: 34.83%
U.S. Casualties per Month: 23,679
Union Total Soldiers Involved: 2,213,363
Union KIA: 140,414
Union Other Deaths: 224,087
Union Wounded: 281,881
Union Total Casualties: 646,382
Union Casualty Percentage: 29.20%
Union Casualties per Month: 13,466
C.S.A. Total Soldiers Involved: 1,050,000
C.S.A. KIA: 74,524
C.S.A. Other Deaths: 188,253
C.S.A. Wounded: 227,435
C.S.A. Total Casualties: 490,212
C.S.A. Casualty Percentage: 46.69%
C.S.A. Casualties per Month: 10,213
U.S. Soldiers Involved: 3,263,363
U.S. KIA: 214,938
U.S. Other Deaths: 412,340
U.S. Wounded: 509,316
U.S. Total Casualties: 1,136,594
U.S. Casualty Percentage: 34.83%
U.S. Casualties per Month: 23,679
Union Total Soldiers Involved: 2,213,363
Union KIA: 140,414
Union Other Deaths: 224,087
Union Wounded: 281,881
Union Total Casualties: 646,382
Union Casualty Percentage: 29.20%
Union Casualties per Month: 13,466
C.S.A. Total Soldiers Involved: 1,050,000
C.S.A. KIA: 74,524
C.S.A. Other Deaths: 188,253
C.S.A. Wounded: 227,435
C.S.A. Total Casualties: 490,212
C.S.A. Casualty Percentage: 46.69%
C.S.A. Casualties per Month: 10,213
Spanish-American War
Duration: 1898-1898 (4 months)
U.S. Soldiers Involved: 306,760
U.S. KIA: 385
U.S. Other Deaths: 2,061
U.S. Wounded: 1,662
U.S. Total Casualties: 4,108
U.S. Casualty Percentage: 1.34%
U.S. Casualties per Month: 1,027
U.S. Soldiers Involved: 306,760
U.S. KIA: 385
U.S. Other Deaths: 2,061
U.S. Wounded: 1,662
U.S. Total Casualties: 4,108
U.S. Casualty Percentage: 1.34%
U.S. Casualties per Month: 1,027
Philippine-American War
Duration: 1899-1902 (41 months)
U.S. Soldiers Involved: 126,000
U.S. KIA: 4,324
U.S. Other Deaths: 3,177
U.S. Wounded: 2,818
U.S. Total Casualties: 10,319
U.S. Casualty Percentage: 8.19%
U.S. Casualties per Month: 252
U.S. Soldiers Involved: 126,000
U.S. KIA: 4,324
U.S. Other Deaths: 3,177
U.S. Wounded: 2,818
U.S. Total Casualties: 10,319
U.S. Casualty Percentage: 8.19%
U.S. Casualties per Month: 252
World War I
Duration: 1917-1918 (19 months)*
U.S. Soldiers Involved: 4,734,991
U.S. KIA: 53,402
U.S. Other Deaths: 63,114
U.S. Wounded: 204,002
U.S. Total Casualties: 320,518
U.S. Casualty Percentage: 6.77%
U.S. Casualties per Month: 16,869
* World War I began in 1914, but the U.S. was not involved until 1917.
U.S. Soldiers Involved: 4,734,991
U.S. KIA: 53,402
U.S. Other Deaths: 63,114
U.S. Wounded: 204,002
U.S. Total Casualties: 320,518
U.S. Casualty Percentage: 6.77%
U.S. Casualties per Month: 16,869
* World War I began in 1914, but the U.S. was not involved until 1917.
World War II
Duration: 1941-1945 (144 months)*
U.S. Soldiers Involved: 16,112,566
U.S. KIA: 291,557
U.S. Other Deaths: 113,842
U.S. Wounded: 671,846
U.S. Total Casualties: 1,077,245
U.S. Casualty Percentage: 6.69%
U.S. Casualties per Month: 24,483
* World War II began in 1939, but the U.S. was not involved until 1941.
U.S. Soldiers Involved: 16,112,566
U.S. KIA: 291,557
U.S. Other Deaths: 113,842
U.S. Wounded: 671,846
U.S. Total Casualties: 1,077,245
U.S. Casualty Percentage: 6.69%
U.S. Casualties per Month: 24,483
* World War II began in 1939, but the U.S. was not involved until 1941.
Korean War
Duration: 1950-1953 (37 months)
U.S. Soldiers Involved: 5,720,000
U.S. KIA: 33,686
U.S. Other Deaths: 20,560*
U.S. Wounded: 103,284
U.S. Total Casualties: 157,530
U.S. Casualty Percentage: 2.75%
U.S. Casualties per Month: 4,258
* 17,730 of these deaths occurred outside the Korean theater.
U.S. Soldiers Involved: 5,720,000
U.S. KIA: 33,686
U.S. Other Deaths: 20,560*
U.S. Wounded: 103,284
U.S. Total Casualties: 157,530
U.S. Casualty Percentage: 2.75%
U.S. Casualties per Month: 4,258
* 17,730 of these deaths occurred outside the Korean theater.
Vietnam War
Duration: 1964-1973 (101 months)*
U.S. Soldiers Involved: 9,200,000**
U.S. KIA: 47,378
U.S. Other Deaths: 10,824
U.S. Wounded: 304,704
U.S. Total Casualties: 362,906
U.S. Casualty Percentage: 10.66%
U.S. Casualties per Month: 3,593
* The Vietnam War began in 1955 as the Second Indochina War, but the U.S. was not involved until after the Gulf of Tonkin Incident in 1964.
** Of this number, 3,403,000 were deployed to Southeast Asia.
U.S. Soldiers Involved: 9,200,000**
U.S. KIA: 47,378
U.S. Other Deaths: 10,824
U.S. Wounded: 304,704
U.S. Total Casualties: 362,906
U.S. Casualty Percentage: 10.66%
U.S. Casualties per Month: 3,593
* The Vietnam War began in 1955 as the Second Indochina War, but the U.S. was not involved until after the Gulf of Tonkin Incident in 1964.
** Of this number, 3,403,000 were deployed to Southeast Asia.
Gulf War I
Duration: 1991-1991 (1.5 months)
U.S. Soldiers Involved: 2,322,332*
U.S. KIA: 147
U.S. Other Deaths: 235
U.S. Wounded: 467
U.S. Total Casualties: 849
U.S. Casualty Percentage: 0.21%
U.S. Casualties per Month: 566
* Of this number, 694,550 were deployed to the Gulf, and 400,000 were stationed in Iraq.
U.S. Soldiers Involved: 2,322,332*
U.S. KIA: 147
U.S. Other Deaths: 235
U.S. Wounded: 467
U.S. Total Casualties: 849
U.S. Casualty Percentage: 0.21%
U.S. Casualties per Month: 566
* Of this number, 694,550 were deployed to the Gulf, and 400,000 were stationed in Iraq.
Miscellaneous "Operations"
Duration: 1871-2000 (1,548 months)*
U.S. Soldiers Involved: 125,000
U.S. KIA: 778
U.S. Other Deaths: 251
U.S. Wounded: 1,155
U.S. Total Casualties: 2,184
U.S. Casualty Percentage: 1.75%
U.S. Casualties per Month: 1
* These miscellaneous "operations" include U.S. participation in numerous conflicts around the world from 1871-2000. Some of the more notable conflicts/operations include: Korean Expedition (1871), Boxer Rebellion (1900-1901), Mexican Revolution (1914-1919), occupation of Haiti (1915-1934), Punitive Expedition in Mexico (1916-1917), Polar Bear Expedition in Russia (1918-1919), Operation Eagle Claw in Iran (1980), El Salvador Civil War (1980-1992), Beirut Deployment (1983), Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada (1983) [pictured above], Operation El Dorado Canyon in Libya (1986), Operation Earnest Will in Persian Gulf (1987-1988), Operation Just Cause in Panama (1989-1990), Operation Restore Hope in Somalia (1992-1993), Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti (1994-1995), Bosnia (1995), and Operation Allied Force in Kosovo (1999).
U.S. Soldiers Involved: 125,000
U.S. KIA: 778
U.S. Other Deaths: 251
U.S. Wounded: 1,155
U.S. Total Casualties: 2,184
U.S. Casualty Percentage: 1.75%
U.S. Casualties per Month: 1
* These miscellaneous "operations" include U.S. participation in numerous conflicts around the world from 1871-2000. Some of the more notable conflicts/operations include: Korean Expedition (1871), Boxer Rebellion (1900-1901), Mexican Revolution (1914-1919), occupation of Haiti (1915-1934), Punitive Expedition in Mexico (1916-1917), Polar Bear Expedition in Russia (1918-1919), Operation Eagle Claw in Iran (1980), El Salvador Civil War (1980-1992), Beirut Deployment (1983), Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada (1983) [pictured above], Operation El Dorado Canyon in Libya (1986), Operation Earnest Will in Persian Gulf (1987-1988), Operation Just Cause in Panama (1989-1990), Operation Restore Hope in Somalia (1992-1993), Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti (1994-1995), Bosnia (1995), and Operation Allied Force in Kosovo (1999).
Afghanistan-American War
Duration: 2001-Present (145 months)*
U.S. Soldiers Involved: 90,000
U.S. KIA: 1,783
U.S. Other Deaths: 370
U.S. Wounded: 19,464
U.S. Total Casualties: 21,617**
U.S. Casualty Percentage: 24.02%
U.S. Casualties per Month: 149
* This war is part of "Operation Enduring Freedom" but does not reflect the 118 deaths that have occurred during combat in Africa, Southeast Asia, Cuba, and the Philippines.
** The casualty figures were last updated on November 11, 2013.
U.S. Soldiers Involved: 90,000
U.S. KIA: 1,783
U.S. Other Deaths: 370
U.S. Wounded: 19,464
U.S. Total Casualties: 21,617**
U.S. Casualty Percentage: 24.02%
U.S. Casualties per Month: 149
* This war is part of "Operation Enduring Freedom" but does not reflect the 118 deaths that have occurred during combat in Africa, Southeast Asia, Cuba, and the Philippines.
** The casualty figures were last updated on November 11, 2013.
Gulf War II (a.k.a. Iraq War)
Duration: 2003-2011 (104 months)
U.S. Soldiers Involved: 250,000
U.S. KIA: 3,542
U.S. Other Deaths: 935
U.S. Wounded: 31,965
U.S. Total Casualties: 36,442
U.S. Casualty Percentage: 14.58%
U.S. Casualties per Month: 350
U.S. Soldiers Involved: 250,000
U.S. KIA: 3,542
U.S. Other Deaths: 935
U.S. Wounded: 31,965
U.S. Total Casualties: 36,442
U.S. Casualty Percentage: 14.58%
U.S. Casualties per Month: 350
During World War I, on November 11, 1918, at 5:00am, the Allied and German delegates signed an armistice; at 11:00 the same morning, hostilities along the Western Front officially came to an end. The end of the war on the "11th hour of the
11th day of the 11th month of 1918" was selected so every person would remember the exact moment when the last war was ever fought. (Obviously, this was not the case.) Still, the next year, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11th as "Armistice Day". A Congressional Act in 1938 made the 11th of November of every year "Armistice Day". Congress amended its own act in 1954 and renamed the holiday "Veterans Day", which is observed every year. [Click the picture to read more about World War I.]
