[Note: Choosing the event that marks the beginning or ending is somewhat arbitrary. For European countries, WW1 is usually considered as starting on Jul. 28, 1914, but the U.S. did not become a combatant until 1917. Some feel The Vietnam War began in 1941, but at that time the US and Ho Chi Minh were allies against Japan as part of WW2. Here are the dates I used. Some of you may find them useful.]
| BEGIN & END DATES OF U.S MILITARY BEING “AT WAR” | ||
| From | To | |
| Revolutionary | 04/19/1775 | 09/03/1783 |
| 1812 | 06/18/1812 | 02/18/1815 |
| Mexican | 04/25/1846 | 02/02/1848 |
| Civil | 04/12/1861 | 06/23/1865 |
| Spanish-American | 04/02/1898 | 12/10/1898 |
| Mexican Punitive | 03/16/1916 | 02/07/1917 |
| WW1 | 04/02/1917 | 11/11/1919 |
| WW2 | 12/07/1941 | 09/02/1945 |
| Korean | 06/25/1950 | 07/27/1953 |
| Vietnam | 11/01/1955 | 04/30/1975 |
| Granada | 10/25/1983 | 10/29/1983 |
| Gulf | 08/02/1990 | 02/28/1991 |
| Afghan | 10/07/2001 | 08/30/2021 |
| Iraq | 03/20/2003 | 12/15/2011 |