A list and a prayer

[Bishop Paul posted the following note on Bakery, the interactive list of the Diocese of Behlehem]

Boalsburg, in Centre County, PA, saw the first "decoration day" to honor war dead in 1864. Lyndon Johnson chose Waterloo NY's 1966 celebration as the original date and purposes of establishing a centennial date.

I know most towns do not pause for a parade or patriotic exercise any more, but perhaps before the first brewsky is popped, the list that follows might be given a glance. Perhaps a word of prayer might silently escape our lips.

Mostly conscripted, but also substituted, enlisted and officers, here is a picture of the lives we remember today:

American Revolution (1775–1783)
Total servicemembers    217,000
Battle deaths    4,435
Nonmortal woundings    6,188
War of 1812 (1812–1815)
Total servicemembers    286,730
Battle deaths    2,260
Nonmortal woundings    4,505
Indian Wars (approx. 1817–1898)
Total servicemembers    106,0001
Battle deaths    1,0001
Mexican War (1846–1848)     
Total servicemembers    78,718
Battle deaths    1,733
Other deaths in service (nontheater)    11,550
Nonmortal woundings    4,152
Civil War (1861–1865)     
Total servicemembers (Union)    2,213,363
Battle deaths (Union)    140,414
Other deaths in service (nontheater) (Union)    224,097
Nonmortal woundings (Union)    281,881
Total servicemembers (Conf.)    1,050,000
Battle deaths (Conf.)    74,524
Other deaths in service (nontheater) (Conf.)    59,2972
Nonmortal woundings (Conf.)    unknown
Spanish-American War (1898–1902)     
Total servicemembers    306,760
Battle deaths    385
Other deaths in service (nontheater)    2,061
Nonmortal woundings    1,662
World War I (1917–1918)3
Total servicemembers    4,734,991
Battle deaths    53,402
Other deaths in service (nontheater)    63,114
Nonmortal woundings    204,002
Living veterans    fewer than 251
World War II (1940–1945)3
Total servicemembers    16,112,566
Battle deaths    291,557
Other deaths in service (nontheater)    113,842
Nonmortal woundings    671,846
Living veterans    3,242,0001
Korean War (1950–1953)
Total servicemembers    5,720,000
Serving in-theater    1,789,000
Battle deaths    33,741
Other deaths in service (theater)    2,833
Other deaths in service (nontheater)    17,672
Nonmortal woundings    103,284
Living veterans    3,086,4001
Vietnam War (1964–1975)
Total servicemembers    8,744,000
Serving in-theater    3,403,000
Battle deaths    47,424
Other deaths in service (theater)    10,785
Other deaths in service (nontheater)    32,000
Nonmortal woundings    153,303
Living veterans    7,286,5001
Gulf War (1990–1991)
Total servicemembers    2,225,000
Serving in-theater    665,476
Battle deaths    147
Other deaths in service (theater)    382
Other deaths in service (nontheater)    1,565
Nonmortal woundings    467
Living veterans    1,852,0001
America's Wars Total (1775–1991)
Military service during war    41,891,368
Battle deaths    651,030
Other deaths in service (theater)    308,800
Other deaths in service (nontheater)    230,279
Nonmortal woundings    1,431,290
Living war veterans    17,456,0004
Living veterans    23,442,000
Global War on Terror 5
Total Servicemembers (Worldwide) (as of Dec 31, 2010)    1,429,367
Deployed to Iraq (Operation New Dawn) (as of Dec. 31, 2010)    85,600
Deployed to Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom)(as of Dec. 31, 2010)    103,700
Battle Deaths (as of May 12, 2011)    4,724
Other Deaths (In Theater) (as of May 12, 2011)    1,294
Non-mortal Woundings (as of May 12, 2011)    43,399
1. Veterans Administration estimate as of Nov. 2008.


Read more: America's Wars: U.S. Casualties and Veterans — Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0004615.html#ixzz1wB8eUEnw