05/22/2026
Approximately 1.3 million American service members have died in warfare since the founding of the United States in 1775. This overall figure combines those killed in active combat and those who died from non-hostile, service-related causes across all major historical conflicts.
The distribution of military fatalities across major conflicts includes:
American Revolution: ~25,000
War of 1812: ~15,000
American Civil War: ~655,000 to 750,000World
War II: 405,399
World War I: 116,516
Vietnam War: 58,220
Korean War: 36,516
Global War on Terror: ~7,073 (Hostile and non-hostile deaths in ongoing operations)
Official statistics and breakdowns by branch and conflict are actively maintained and published by the Defense Casualty Analysis System.
Furthermore, according to the Department of Defense, more than 80,000 American service members remain unaccounted for and missing from their previous conflicts.
We shall remember everyone who died protecting our constitutional freedom as Americans.
May we never forget freedom isn’t free.
