Veterans on parade
The current fronts in the Global War on Terrorism, Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), have swollen the ranks of veterans returning to civilian life.
41.9
million Americans have served during wartime, from the Revolutionary War to Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. There have been more than 651,000 combat deaths.
2.6
million veterans from World War II to the Gulf War are currently collecting compensation and pensions from the government. Three children of Civil War veterans also were collecting benefits as of September 2007.
16,584
soldiers have been wounded in action in OEF and OIF as of March 29. Another 2,112 have died in combat.
SOURCE: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Department of Defense, November 2007 and March 29, 2008, respectively.