Memorial Day 2009: American War Casualties Throughout History

Memorial Day is supposed to be a time for reflection. Many Americans have paid the ultimate price in their service to the nation. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will not be the last, they are just the most recent. The following list includes only "major" wars--notice such recent conflicts such as the Panama War (1989) and Grenada (1982) are missing.

War Casualties KIA
Revolutionary War 10,623 4,435
War of 1812 6,765 2,260
Mexican-American War 17,435 1,733
Civil War 970,227 184,594
Spanish-American War 4,108 385
World War I 320,710 53,513
World War II 1,078,162 292,131
Korean War 136,935 33,651
Vietnam War 211,471 47,369
Gulf War 760 148

Afghanistan War 687

Iraq War 31,156 4299