Freedom isn’t free. It’s much more than a slogan. This weekend I am pondering about the many US veterans who have served, sacrificed, and in many cases given their lives for our country, people, and freedoms. Since our founding, some 2,620,375 men and women have been killed or wounded during their call to service for our country,as they defended our borders, and protected our freedoms. This number reflects approximately 6.76 percent of all persons who have served in the armed forces since the founding of our country.
From the US Veterans Affairs we find these stats:
American Revolution (1775-1783)
U.S. servicemembers: 184,000-250,000 (estimated)
Deaths: 4,435
Wounded: 6,188
Last veteran: Daniel F. Bakeman, died in 1869 at age 109
War of 1812 (1812-1815)
U.S. servicemembers: 286,730
Deaths: 2,260
Wounded: 4,505
Last veteran: Hiram Cronk, died in 1905 at age 105
Indian Wars (approximately 1817-1898)
U.S. servicemembers: 106,000 (estimated)
Deaths: 1,000 (estimated)
Last veteran: Fredrak Fraske, died in 1973 at age 101
Mexican War (1846-1848)
U.S. servicemembers: 78,718
Deaths: 13,283
Wounded: 4,152
Last veteran: Owen Thomas Edgar, died in 1929 at age 98
Civil War (1861-1865)
Union servicemembers: 2,213,363
Confederate servicemembers: 600,000-1,500,000 (estimated)
Union deaths: 364,511
Confederate deaths: 133,821 (estimated)
Union wounded: 281,881
Confederate wounded: Unknown
Last veteran: John Salling, died in 1958 at age 112
Spanish-American War (1898-1902)
U.S. servicemembers: 306,760
Deaths: 2,446 (385 in battle)
Wounded: 1,662
Last veteran: Nathan E. Cook, died in 1992 at age 106
World War I (1917-1918)
U.S. servicemembers: 4,734,991
Deaths: 116,516 (53,402 in battle)
Wounded: 204,002
Last veteran: Frank Buckles, died in 2011 at age 110
World War II (1941-1945)
U.S. servicemembers: 16,112,566
Deaths: 405,399 (291,557 in battle)
Wounded: 670,846
Estimated living veterans: 1,711,000
Korean War (1950-1953)
U.S. servicemembers: 5,720,000
Deaths: 54,246 (36,574 in theater)
Wounded: 103,284
Estimated living veterans: 2,275,000
Vietnam War (1964-1975)
U.S. servicemembers: 8,744,000 (estimated 3,403,000 deployed)
Deaths: 90,220 (58,220 in theater)
Wounded: 153,303
Estimated living veterans: 7,391,000
Desert Shield/Desert Storm (1990-1991)
U.S. servicemembers: 2,322,000 (694,550 deployed)
Deaths: 1,948 (383 in theater)
Wounded: 467
Estimated living veterans: 2,244,583 (2009 estimate, may include veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan)
Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
My father was an officer in the US Marine Corps, and I have two children who have served or are currently serving in the US armed services: a Marine and a US Army soldier. I think about their service and personal life sacrifices that they have made to allow us to enjoy the many freedoms we possess.
The weapons used today are greater impacting, exact more injury and pain, than in prior decades, with the exception of the nuclear bombs dropped in Japan to end WWII. These injuries are often endured by our veterans with life impacting consequences. So I wondered how I can help our Veterans and our wounded veterans and we decided to do something about it.
On June 26, 2017, I along with my colleagues from Vistage Utah, will be hosting a Vistage Utah members and guest charity benefit golf tournament at the Jeremy Ranch Golf and Country Club in Park City, UT. All charitable proceeds will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project. Through golf event activities, a silent auction, and direct contributions, we hope to double our past funding raising activities for charity this year.
To register to play golf or be a golf hole sponsor go to this link for the golf tournament: https://secure.perfectgolfevent.com/eventweb/3281/index.php
