Veterans of U.S. Wars and Their Dependents

Updated May 3, 2021 | Infoplease Staff

Veterans' benefits have existed since the birth of our nation. As of September 2011, over three million veterans, their dependents, and survivors of deceased veterans are receiving VA benefits and services.

The last dependent of a Revolutionary War veteran died in 1911; the War of 1812's last dependent died in 1946; and the last dependent of the Mexican War died in 1962. Some 63 children and 50 widows of Spanish-American War veterans are receiving benefits today. There are in fact 2 children of Civil War veterans who still draw VA benefits.

  Veterans Children1 Parents Surviving spouses
Civil War - 2 - __
Indian Wars - - - -
Spanish-American War - 63 - 50
Mexican Border - 10 - 22
World War I - 2,371 - 2,734
World War II 269,418 11,185 29 210,696
Korean Conflict 206,502 2,347 105 65,900
Vietnam Era 1,325,941 4,051 2,228 191,488
Gulf War2 1, 214,715 3,220 1,231 19,941
Total wartime 16,962,0003 - - -
Nonservice-connected 313,660 12,416 0 189,433
Service-connected 3,354,740 12,364 4,514 338,565
1. Children connotes a minor or a dependent adult.
2. For VA benefits purposes, the Gulf War period of service remains open-ended and also includes those discharged from 1991 to date.
3. Total will be more than sum of conflicts due to no "end date" established for Persian Gulf War.
Source: Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense. Web: America's Wars Fact Sheet .

 

 

  Veterans Last Living Veterans of America's Wars

 

 

 
 
Veterans
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