Thank a veteran for your freedoms today.
23.7 million
The number of military veterans in the United States in 2006.
(Source: Table 505 of the upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2008.)Female Veterans
1.7 million
The number of female veterans in 2006.
(Source: Table 505 of the upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2008.)16%
Percentage of Gulf War veterans in 2006 who were women.
(Source: Table 506 of the upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2008.)Race and Hispanic Origin
2.4 million
The number of black veterans in 2006. Additionally, 1.1 million veterans are Hispanic; 292,000 are Asian; 169,000 are American Indian or Alaska Native; and 28,000 are Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. (The numbers for blacks, Asians, American Indians and Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders cover only those reporting a single race.) (Source: 2006 American Community Survey.)When They Served
9.2 million
The number of veterans 65 and older in 2006. At the other end of the age spectrum, 1.9 million were younger than 35.
(Source: Table 506 of the upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2008.)8 million
Number of Vietnam-era veterans in 2006. Thirty-three percent of all living veterans served during this time (1964-1975). In addition, 4.6 million served during the Gulf War (representing service from Aug. 2, 1990, to present); 3.2 million in World War II (1941-1945); 3.1 million in the Korean War (1950-1953); and 6.1 million in peacetime. (Source: Table 506 of the upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2008.)430,000
In 2006, number of living veterans who served during both the Vietnam era and the Gulf War.Other living veterans in 2006 who served in two or more wars:
350,000 served during both the Korean and Vietnam wars.
78,000 served during three periods: World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
294,000 served in World War II and the Korean War.
(Source: 2006 American Community Survey.)3
The documented number of living World War I veterans who served with U.S. forces as of Oct. 2, 2007. (Source: Department of Veterans Affairs)
There are 800,000 fewer living American veterans since I published these details just two years ago.
My husband is a veteran who served during Vietnam. He served the Army in the 82nd Airborne. Thank you John.
And when he was finished his tour, he made his way to the Democratic Convention in Chicago. By that time he had grown out his hair and was among those protesting the war. And continues to this day to voice his opinion about needless wars.