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List of battles with most United States military fatalities

This article contains a list of battles with most United States military fatalities, in terms of American deaths.

Color photo of a graveyard in Autumn
Arlington House in Arlington National Cemetery. Section 32 of the cemetery is in the foreground.

Introduction

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This article lists battles and campaigns in which the number of U.S. soldiers killed was higher than 1,000. The battles and campaigns that reached that number of deaths in the field are so far limited to the American Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, and one campaign during the Vietnam War (the Tet Offensive from January 30 to September 23, 1968). The campaign that resulted in the most US military deaths was the Battle of Normandy (June 6 to August 25, 1944) in which 29,204 soldiers were killed fighting against Nazi Germany.

The bloodiest single day in the history of the United States military is either June 6, 1944, with 2,500 soldiers killed during the Invasion of Normandy on D-Day, or September 12th, 1918, at the start of the Battle of Saint Mihiel, with over 2,500 dead (however, this exact figure is unverifiable because of poor documentation). The third-highest single-day toll was the Battle of Antietam, with 2,108 dead.

The deadliest single-day battle in American history, if all engaged armies are considered, is the Battle of Antietam with 3,675 killed, including both United States and Confederate soldiers (total casualties for both sides were 22,717 dead, wounded, or missing Union and Confederate soldiers September 17, 1862).[1][a][2]

The origins of the U.S. military can be traced to the Americans' fight for independence from their former colonial power, Great Britain, in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783). The three bloodiest conflicts have been American Civil War (1861–1865), World War I (1917–1918), and World War II (1941–1945 for declared American involvement). Other significant conflicts involving the United States ordered by casualties include the Korean War (1950–1953), the Vietnam War (1964–1973), the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), and various conflicts in the Middle East.

Scope and definitions

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The definition of "battle" as a concept in military science has varied with the changes in the organization, employment, and technology of military forces. Before the 20th century, "battle" usually meant a military clash over a small area, lasting a few days at most and often just one day—such as the Battle of Waterloo, which began and ended on 18 June 1815 on a field a few kilometers across.

Especially in 20th-century conflicts, "battle" has meant "military campaign"—larger and longer military operations, on the operational or even strategic level—such as the Battle of the Atlantic, fought for several years (1939–1945) over about a fifth of the Earth's surface.

Since both types of "battles" are not usefully comparable in many ways, including casualty comparisons, this article is divided into two sections, one for battle in the older, more restricted sense and one for campaigns, many of which are also called battles.

There are actions at the margins that can be reasonably assigned to either list. For instance, the Battle of Spotsylvania lasted 14 days, but the main part was fought on a small field (less than three kilometers on a side), and in this way being more in the nature of a siege (a military action typically of long duration but in covering a relatively small area). Like the similar Battle of Cold Harbor, also part of the Overland Campaign, it is included in this article on the Battles list. The Battle of Saint-Mihiel, lasting only about four days, but on a larger field (roughly 12 kilometers by 25 kilometers), is also included on the Battles list.

The term casualty in warfare can often be confusing. It often does not refer to those who are killed on the battlefield; rather, it refers to those who can no longer fight. That can include disabled by injuries, disabled by psychological trauma, captured, deserted, or missing. A casualty is only a soldier who is no longer available for the immediate battle or campaign, the major consideration in combat, and the number of casualties is simply the number of members of a unit who are not available for duty. For example, during the Seven Days Battles during the American Civil War (June 25 to July 1, 1862) there were 5,228 killed, 23,824 wounded and 7,007 missing or taken prisoners for a total of 36,059 casualties.[3][a] The word casualty has been used in a military context since at least 1513.[4] In this article the numbers killed refer to those killed in action, killed by disease or someone who died from their wounds.

Battles

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Battle or siege Conflict Date Estimated number killed Opposing force References
Battle of Elsenborn Ridge (part of the Battle of the Bulge) World War II December 16 to 26, 1944 ~5,000 killed   Germany [5]
Battle of Saint-Mihiel World War I September 12 to 15, 1918 ~4,500 killed   Germany [6]
Battle of Gettysburg American Civil War July 1 to July 3, 1863 3,155 killed[b]   Confederate States of America [7]
Battle of Leyte Gulf World War II October 23 to 25, 1944 2,800 killed   Japan [8]
Battle of Spotsylvania American Civil War May 8 to May 21, 1864 2,725 killed[c]   Confederate States of America [9]
D-Day (first day of Operation Overlord) World War II June 6, 1944 2,500 killed   Germany [10]
Pearl Harbor Attack World War II December 7, 1941 2,335 killed[d]   Japan [11]
Battle of the Wilderness American Civil War May 5 to May 7, 1864 2,246 killed[e]   Confederate States of America [9]
Operation Thunderbolt (part of the Chinese Invasion of South Korea) Korean War January 25 to February 20, 1951 2,228 killed   China

  North Korea

[12]
Battle of Antietam American Civil War September 17, 1862 2,108 killed   Confederate States of America [9]
Battle of Aachen (part of the Battle of Hürtgen Forest) World War II October 12 to October 21, 1944 2,000 killed   Germany [13]
Battle of Cold Harbor American Civil War May 21 to June 12, 1864 1,844 killed[f]   Confederate States of America [9]
Battle of Tarawa World War II November 20 to November 23, 1943 1,759 killed[g]   Japan [14]
Battle of Shiloh American Civil War April 6 to April 7, 1862 1,754 killed[h]   Confederate States of America [9]
Second Battle of Bull Run American Civil War August 26 to August 30, 1862 1,747 killed[i]   Confederate States of America [9]
Seven Days Battles American Civil War June 25 to July 1, 1862 1,734 killed[j]   Confederate States of America [3]
UN Invasion of North Korea Korean War September 30 to November 25, 1950 1,732 killed   North Korea
  China 		[15]
Naval Battle of Guadalcanal World War II November 12, 1942 to November 15, 1942 1,732 killed  Japan [citation needed]
Battle of Stones River American Civil War December 31, 1862 to January 2, 1863 1,730 killed[k]   Confederate States of America [9]
Battle of Chickamauga American Civil War September 19 to September 20, 1863 1,656 killed[l]   Confederate States of America [9]
Battle of Chancellorsville American Civil War April 30 to May 6, 1863 1,606 killed[m]   Confederate States of America [9]
UN Counteroffensive from the Pusan Perimeter (including the Inchon Landings and the Second Battle of Seoul) Korean War September 15 to September 30, 1950 1,492 killed   North Korea [15]
Task Force Faith Korean War November 27 to December 2, 1950 1,450~ killed[n]   China [16]
Second Battle of Naktong Bulge (part of the Battle of Pusan Perimeter) Korean War September 1 to September 15, 1950 1,305 killed   North Korea [17]
Battle of Fredericksburg American Civil War December 11 to December 15, 1862 1,284 killed[o]   Confederate States of America [18]
Battle of Taejon Korean War July 14 to July 21, 1950 1,128 killed  North Korea [19]
Battle of Savo Island (part of the Guadalcanal Campaign) World War II August 8, 1942 to August 9, 1942 1,077 killed   Japan [citation needed]
Battle of Belleau Wood World War I June 1 to June 26, 1918 1,062 killed   Germany [20]
Battle of Masan (part of the Battle of Pusan Perimeter) Korean War August 5 to September 19, 1950 1,057 killed   North Korea [21]
Battle of Manila (part of the Battle of Luzon) World War II February 3 to March 3, 1945 1,010 killed   Japan [22]

Campaigns

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Campaign Conflict Date Estimated number killed Opposing force References
Battle of Normandy World War II June 6 to August 25, 1944 29,204 killed  Germany [p][23][24]
Meuse–Argonne Offensive World War I September 26 to November 11, 1918 26,277 killed  Germany [25]
Battle of the Bulge World War II December 16, 1944 to January 28, 1945 19,276 killed  Germany [26]
Central Europe Campaign World War II March 22 to May 8, 1945 15,009 killed  Germany [23]
38th Parallel Static Warfare Campaign Korean War July 11, 1951 to July 27, 1953 ~13,800 killed  China [27]
Philippines Campaign World War II December 8, 1941 to May 6, 1942 ~13,000 killed  Japan [q]
Battle of Okinawa World War II April 1 to June 22, 1945 ~12,500  Japan [28]
Battle of Hürtgen Forest World War II September 19, 1944 to February 17, 1945 ~24,000 killed  Germany [r]
North Apennines Campaign World War II September 10, 1944 to April 4, 1945 8,486 killed  Germany [23]
Battle of Luzon World War II January 9 to August 15, 1945 8,310 killed  Japan [30]
Chinese Invasion of South Korea Korean War December 31, 1950 to July 10, 1951 ~8,000 killed  China [31]
Operation Dragoon World War II August 15 to September 14, 1944 7,301 killed  Germany [29]
Guadalcanal Campaign World War II August 7, 1942, to February 9, 1943 7,100 killed  Japan [32]
Alsace Campaign World War II November 13, 1944 to February 19, 1945 7,000 killed  Germany [33]
Battle of Iwo Jima World War II February 19 to March 26, 1945 6,821 killed  Japan [34]
Lorraine Campaign World War II September 1 to December 18, 1944 6,657 killed  Germany [35]
Naples–Foggia Campaign World War II September 9, 1943 to January 21, 1944 6,266 killed  Germany [23]
Battle of Anzio World War II January 22 to June 5, 1944 5,538 killed  Germany [23]
Battle of Pusan Perimeter Korean War August 4 to September 18, 1950 4,599 killed  North Korea [36]
Chinese Second Phase Offensive in North Korea Korean War November 25 to December 15, 1950 4,538 killed[s]  China [37]
Chinese Spring Offensive and UN Counteroffensive (part of the Chinese Invasion of South Korea) Korean War April 22 to July 1, 1951 ~3,600 killed  China
 North Korea 		[38]
Battle of Leyte World War II October 17 to December 26, 1944 3,593 killed  Japan [t]
Saar-Palatinate Offensive World War II March 8 to March 24, 1945 3,540 killed  Germany [40]
Battle of Saipan World War II June 15 to July 9, 1944 3,426 killed  Japan [41]
Tet Offensive Vietnam War January 30 to September 23, 1968 3,178 Killed  North Vietnam
 Viet Cong 		[u]
North Korean Invasion of South Korea Korean War June 25 to August 3, 1950 3,108 killed  North Korea [15]
Battle of Chosin Reservoir Korean War November 27 to December 13, 1950 ~2,840 killed[v]  China [43]
Tunisian Campaign World War II November 12, 1942 to May 13, 1943 2,838 killed  Germany
 Italy 		[29]
Battle of Sicily World War II July 9 to August 17, 1943 2,811 killed  Italy
 Germany 		[44]
Dutch East Indies Campaign World War II December 8, 1941 to March 9, 1942 ~2,000 killed  Japan [w]
Second Battle of the Marne World War I July 15 to August 6, 1918 1,926 killed[x]  Germany [46]
Po Valley Offensive World War II April 5 to May 8, 1945 1,914 killed  Germany [29]
Battle of Guam World War II July 21 to August 10, 1944 1,783 killed  Japan [47]: 163 
Operation Lumberjack World War II March 1 to 25, 1945 1,700 killed  Germany [48]
Battle of the Ch'ongch'on River Korean War November 25 to December 2, 1950 1,489 killed[y]  China [49]
Battle of Peleliu World War II September 15 to November 25, 1944 1,460 killed  Japan [50]: 327 
Operation Grenade World War II February 23 to March 10, 1945 1,330 killed  Germany [51]
Battle of Mindanao World War II March 10 to August 15, 1945 1,041 killed[z]  Japan [52][53]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b Union and Confederate numbers added together
  2. ^ 7,058 Americans (North & South)
  3. ^ 2,725 Union[9] and 1,515 Confederacy
  4. ^ 2,008 Navy KIA + 109 Marines + 218 Army (not included: 68 civilian deaths)[11]
  5. ^ 2,246 Union[9] and 1,495 Confederacy
  6. ^ 1,844 Union[9] and 788 Confederacy
  7. ^ 984 Marines + 88 MIA + 687 Navy
    984+ 88+ 687[14]
  8. ^ 1,754 Union[9] and 1,728 Confederacy
  9. ^ 1,747 Union[9] and 1,305 Confederacy
  10. ^ 1,734 Union and 3,494 Confederacy[3]
  11. ^ 1,730 Union[9] and 1,294 Confederacy
  12. ^ 1,656 Union[9] and 2,312 Confederacy
  13. ^ 1,606 Union[9] and 1,724 Confederacy
  14. ^ Of the 2,500 soldiers in Task Force Faith only 1,050 made it back. Of those only 385 were able-bodied[16]
  15. ^ 1,284 Union and 608 Confederacy[18]
  16. ^ 20,668 among ground forces and 8,536 among the USAAF
  17. ^ Hard to get exact numbers because post-World War II history books about the 1941-42 Philippines campaign focus mostly on the Bataan Death March and brutality in POW camps and don't give exact numbers on the KIA during the actual Battle of Bataan. Usually ~10,000 U.S. forces killed is given for the KIA in the actual Battle of Bataan. On Corregidor there were ~1,000 KIA. There were thousands more sailors and airmen killed in action during the 1941-42 Philippines Campaign on sunken U.S. Navy ships and hundreds of destroyed USAAF airplanes from December 1941 to May 1942.
  18. ^ 50,410 Americans died in the Rhineland from September 1944 - March 21, 1945[29]
  19. ^ U.S. Army KIA+Army POW died+Army MIA died+Marine KIA+Navy KIA
    1183+1167+1410+763+15 = 4,538
  20. ^ 16,233 died in Leyte, Luson, and Southern Philippines during October 17, 1944 - July 4, 1945[39]
  21. ^ 16,592 American died in 1968[42]
  22. ^ 836 Marines killed + 2,000 US Army killed[43]
  23. ^ 10 U.S. Navy ships were sunk, resulting in 1,973 killed in action. 24 U.S. Army soldiers of the Lost Battalion were killed in action. Unknown number of USAAF airmen flying P-40 fighters were also killed during this campaign.
  24. ^ 12,000 casualties including KIA, WIA, POW[45]
  25. ^ 676 killed + 813 Missing presumed dead
  26. ^ Operation VICTOR IV, the seizure of Mindanao's Zamboanga Peninsula occurred at the same time as Battle of Mindanao.
    221 killed and 665 wounded on Zamboanga Peninsula[52]
    820 killed and 2,880 wounded on E. Mindanao[53]

References

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  1. ^ Tucker 2013, p. 903
  2. ^ History.com 2017
  3. ^ a b c Tucker 2013, p. 892
  4. ^ Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed gives a 1513 reference for military casualty, and an 1844 reference for civilian use
  5. ^ “A Time for Trumpets: The Untold Story of the Battle of the Bulge“, p. 410
  6. ^ "St. Mihiel American Cemetery | American Battle Monuments Commission".
  7. ^ Burke & Roth 2014, p. 7
  8. ^ Tucker 2013, p. 1668
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Allen 2017
  10. ^ D-Day Museum and Overlord Embroidery 2017
  11. ^ a b Alison 2016
  12. ^ Ecker 2005, p. 83.
  13. ^ Peters 2017
  14. ^ a b Tucker 2013, p. 1605
  15. ^ a b c Sobieski, Anthony J. 1127 Days of Death – a Korean War Chronology – Part I, 1950. https://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/Korea/KoreanWarPartI . Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  16. ^ a b Daily 1999, p. 68
  17. ^ Ecker 2004, pp. 16, 20.
  18. ^ a b Tucker 2013, p. 919
  19. ^ Ecker 2004, p. 6.
  20. ^ Tucker 2013, p. 1323
  21. ^ Ecker 2004, pp. 29, 31, 39.
  22. ^ “The Battle for Manila” p. 195
  23. ^ a b c d e Comptroller of the United States Army 1953, p. 92
  24. ^ “ Determining the Decisive Moments: The Invasion of Normandy” p 341
  25. ^ Brown 2013, p. 191
  26. ^ Graham 2007, p. 159.
  27. ^ Ecker 2005.
  28. ^ "HyperWar: US Army in WWII: Okinawa: The Last Battle [Appendix C]". www.ibiblio.org. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  29. ^ a b c d Comptroller of the United States Army 1953, p. 93
  30. ^ Willmott 2005, p. 22
  31. ^ Ecker 2005, pp. 73–105.
  32. ^ Tucker 2014, p. 213
  33. ^ "The Colmar Pocket – "The Forgotten Campaign"".
  34. ^ Smith 2009, p. II
  35. ^ Zabecki 1999, p. 1560
  36. ^ Varhola 2000, p. 6
  37. ^ (Ecker 2005, p. 62)
  38. ^ Ecker 2005, pp. 93–105.
  39. ^ Comptroller of the United States Army 1953, p. 94
  40. ^ “Warfare and Armed Conflicts: A Statistical Encyclopedia of Casualty and Other Figures, 1492–2015, 4th Ed.” page 480
  41. ^ Hearn 2007, p. 88
  42. ^ United States 2010
  43. ^ a b Hickman 2017
  44. ^ Hart 2015, p. 627
  45. ^ Sondhaus 2011, p. 413
  46. ^ Surgeon General 1920, pp. 43–44
  47. ^ Rottman, Gordon L (2004). Guam 1941 & 1944: Loss and Reconquest (1st ed.). Botley: Osprey Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-1-8417-6811-3. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  48. ^ “Warfare and Armed Conflicts: A Statistical Encyclopedia of Casualty and Other Figures, 1492–2015, 4th Ed.” page 479
  49. ^ (Ecker 2005, p. 62).
  50. ^ Eggenberger, D. "An Encyclopedia of Battles: Accounts of Over 1,560 Battles from 1479 B.C. to the Present". Courier Corporation. 2012. ISBN 978-0-4861-4201-2
  51. ^ "Warfare and Armed Conflicts" p. 479
  52. ^ a b Smith 2005, p. 597
  53. ^ a b Smith 2005, p. 648

Sources

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