Memorial Day 2011

Memorial Day, which is observed on the last Monday of May, commemorates the men and women who died while in the military service.  In observance of the holiday, many people visit cemeteries and memorials, and volunteers often place American flags on each grave site at national cemeteries.  A national moment of remembrance takes place at 3:00 p.m. local time.

United States Military Casualties

Revolutionary War (1775-1783)
Served: No data
Deaths: 4,435
Wounded 6,188

War of 1812 (1812-1815)
Served: 286,730
Battle Deaths: 2,260
Wounded: 4,505

Mexican War (1846-1848)
Served: 78,718
Battle Deaths: 1,733
Other Deaths: 11,550
Wounded: 4,152

Civil War (1861-1865)
Served: 2,213,363
Battle Deaths: 140,414
Other Deaths: 224,097
Wounded: 281,881

Spanish-American War (1895-1902)
Served: 306,760
Battle Deaths: 385
Other Deaths: 2,061
Wounded: 1,662

World War I (1917-1918)
Served: 4,734,991
Battle Deaths: 53,402
Other Deaths: 63,114
Wounded: 204,002

World War II (1941-1946)
Served: 16,112,566
Battle Deaths: 291,557
Other Deaths: 113,842
Wounded: 671,846

Korean War (1950-1953)
Served: 5,720,000
Battle Deaths: 33,651
Other Deaths: 3,262
Wounded: 103,284

Vietnam War (1964-1973)
Served: 8,744,000
Battle Deaths: 47,378
Other Deaths: 10,799
Wounded: 153,303

Gulf War (1991)
Served: 24,100
Deaths: 162

Afghanistan War (2002-present)
Deaths: 2,449 (as of May 20, 2011)

Iraq War (2003-present)
Deaths: 4,771 (as of May 20, 2011)
Wounded in action: 29,978

Source: Department of Defense, United States Central Command, and Iraq Coalition Casualty Count

Source:  www.va.gov