En Memoriam - Memorial Day Post

My Memorial Day post is a little late. I have been thinking about this all day. The net is chock full of writers whose skills far exceed those of your humble servant. I offer this because it is the best that I can do.

AMERICAN WAR DEATHS

...............................................KIA..........OTHER..........TOTAL
Revolutionary War.........4,435.............*.................4435
War of 1812 ....................2,260............*.................2260
Mexican War...................1,733 .......11,550 ........ 13,283
Civil War:
Union .............................110,070 .....249,458 ....... 359,528
Confederate...................74,524 .... 124,000+...... 198,524
Combined ................... 184,594 .....373,458 ....... 558,052
Spanish-Amer. War ........... 385 .......... 2061 ............ 2446 &
World War I .................. 53,513 ....... 63,195 .. .....116,708
World War II ............... 292,131 ..... 115,185 ....... 407,316
Korean War ................... 33,651 .......... * ................ 33,651
Vietnam War ................. 47,369 ..... 10,799 ........... 58,168
Gulf War ............................. 148 ........... 145 ................293

Combat deaths refers to troops killed in action or dead of wounds. Other includes deaths from disease, privation, and accidents, and includes losses among prisoners of war. Wounded who died of their wounds are included under Combat Deaths.

Notes:
* Non-battle deaths not known for these wars.
+ Confederate non-battle deaths and wounded estimated.
& Actually only six weeks of sustained combat.
^ There was only one month of combat.

These figures obviously leave out a great number of conflicts ongoing and those not considered "wars", like Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, the Indian Wars, Texas/Mexico, the campaign against the Barbary Pirates, etc. These figures also do not include those lost who did not wear a uniform, such as American government officials, FBI and other American law enforcement officers, CIA officers and civilians (men, women and children) caught up in conflicts and murdered simply because they were Americans.

And these are just numbers.

Please remember that each and every one of the numbers listed above represents a name.

Someone’s son or daughter.

Someone’s brother or sister.

Someone’s mommy or daddy.

Someone’s friend.

Our heroes.
.