I was taking a break from stewing over databases and decided to do some figuring on Operation Iraqi Freedom. I figured I'd post these statistics just to see what kind of a snowball would start rolling. Basically, I found that even as many people in the media are bringing up the specter of Vietnam and stewing over SECDEF's recent "slog" memo, we are actually sustaining the lowest casualty rates of any modern war that the US has fought (note the decreasing trend). To wit:
World War II: 7 December 1941-28 August 1945
1362 days, Total: 407,316 American deaths
297.65 deaths/day
Korea: 25 June 1950-27 July 1953
1063 days, 54,246 American deaths
51.03 deaths/day
Vietnam: 7 August 1964-19 March 1973
3130 days, 58,168 American deaths
18.58 deaths/day
Gulf War: I 16 January 1991-28 February 1991
43 days, 293 American deaths
6.81 deaths/day
Gulf War II 19 Mar 2003-now***
217 days, 342 American deaths
1.57 American deaths per day.
A few assumptions on dates: World War II is considered to begin with the attack on Pearl Harbor, and end on V-J day. Korea is considered to have begun with the North Koreans' initial attack and ended with the signing of the 1953 armistice. Vietnam is considered to have begun with the passing of the Tonkin Gulf resolution and ended at the last withdrawal of American troops from South Vietnam. Gulf War I began with the Allied airstrikes on Iraq and ended with the ceasing of offensive ground operations. Gulf War II began with the initial decapitation airstrikes against Hussein's regime.
***My source for OIF casualties is the DOD Directorate for Information Operations and Reports website, which only has figures through 22 October.
Selected sources:
http://www.historyguy.com/american_war_casualties.html
http://www.dior.whs.mil/mmid/casualty/castop.htm
http://www.gwvi.ncr.gov/tab1-1.html
This is a rough guess-timate based on about 40min worth of Googling. I'm going to avoid putting my own opinion up for now, and just let the numbers stir the debate. Comments anyone?
World War II: 7 December 1941-28 August 1945
1362 days, Total: 407,316 American deaths
297.65 deaths/day
Korea: 25 June 1950-27 July 1953
1063 days, 54,246 American deaths
51.03 deaths/day
Vietnam: 7 August 1964-19 March 1973
3130 days, 58,168 American deaths
18.58 deaths/day
Gulf War: I 16 January 1991-28 February 1991
43 days, 293 American deaths
6.81 deaths/day
Gulf War II 19 Mar 2003-now***
217 days, 342 American deaths
1.57 American deaths per day.
A few assumptions on dates: World War II is considered to begin with the attack on Pearl Harbor, and end on V-J day. Korea is considered to have begun with the North Koreans' initial attack and ended with the signing of the 1953 armistice. Vietnam is considered to have begun with the passing of the Tonkin Gulf resolution and ended at the last withdrawal of American troops from South Vietnam. Gulf War I began with the Allied airstrikes on Iraq and ended with the ceasing of offensive ground operations. Gulf War II began with the initial decapitation airstrikes against Hussein's regime.
***My source for OIF casualties is the DOD Directorate for Information Operations and Reports website, which only has figures through 22 October.
Selected sources:
http://www.historyguy.com/american_war_casualties.html
http://www.dior.whs.mil/mmid/casualty/castop.htm
http://www.gwvi.ncr.gov/tab1-1.html
This is a rough guess-timate based on about 40min worth of Googling. I'm going to avoid putting my own opinion up for now, and just let the numbers stir the debate. Comments anyone?
