The National World War II Memorial will be dedicated on
May 29 in Washington, D.C. Located between the Lincoln Memorial and the
Washington Monument, it will be the first national memorial dedicated
to the men and women who served in the U.S. armed forces during World
War II, including those who died in combat and the Americans who supported
the war effort on the home front. This special edition of Facts for Features
pays tribute to those who served our country in that war.
Proud to Serve
16.1 million
The number of U.S. armed forces personnel who served in World War II between
Dec. 1, 1941, and Dec. 31, 1946.
See Table 523 at <http://www.census.gov/prod/www/statistical-abstract-03.html>
33 months
The average length of active-duty by U.S. military personnel during WWII.
See Table 523 at <http://www.census.gov/prod/www/statistical-abstract-03.html>
Serving Abroad …
73%
The proportion of U.S. military personnel who served abroad during WWII.
See Table 523 at <http://www.census.gov/prod/www/statistical-abstract-03.html>
16 months
The average time U.S. personnel served overseas during WWII.
See Table 523 at <http://www.census.gov/prod/www/statistical-abstract-03.html>
Supreme Sacrifice
292,000
The number of U.S. soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines killed in battle
in WWII.
See Table 523 at <http://www.census.gov/prod/www/statistical-abstract-03.html>
114,000
The number of other deaths sustained by U.S. forces during WWII.
See Table 523 at <http://www.census.gov/prod/www/statistical-abstract-03.html>
And the Wounded:
671,000
The number of U.S. troops wounded during WWII.
See Table 523 at <http://www.census.gov/prod/www/statistical-abstract-03.html>
Veterans
5.7 million
The number of World War II veterans counted in Census 2000. The census
identified the period of service for World War II veterans as September
1940 to July 1947.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/census_2000/001120.html>
475,000
The estimated number of WWII veterans living in California in 2002, the
most in any state. Other states with high numbers of WWII vets included
Florida (439,000), New York (284,000), Pennsylvania (280,000), Texas (267,000)
and Ohio (208,000).
See Table 529 at <http://www.census.gov/prod/www/statistical-abstract-03.html>
5.4%
The proportion of WWII veterans among the Clearwater, Fla., civilian population
age 18 and over in 2000. Other large places (100,000 or more population)
with high concentrations of WWII vets were: Cape Coral, Fla. (5.1 percent),
Oceanside, Calif. (4.3 percent); and Scottsdale, Ariz.; Pueblo, Colo.,
Metairie, La., St. Petersburg, Fla.; Santa Rosa, Calif.; Mesa, Ariz.;
and Independence, Mo. (all around 4 percent).
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/census_2000/001120.html>
210,000
The estimated number of women in 2002 who were WWII veterans. These women
comprised 4.4 percent of WWII vets.
See Table 530 at <http://www.census.gov/prod/www/statistical-abstract-03.html>
22%
The proportion of all veterans in April 2000 who were WWII veterans.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/census_2000/001120.html>
76.7 years old
The median age of WWII veterans four years ago when the last census was
conducted.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/census_2000/001120.html>
11.6%
The proportion of WWII veterans who were still employed in 2000.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/census_2000/001120.html>
440,000
The number of WWII veterans in 2002 who received compensation for service-connected
disabilities, about half the number in 1990 (876,000) and nearly two-thirds
less than the nearly 1.2 million disabled WWII vets in 1980.
See Table 531 at <http://www.census.gov/prod/www/statistical-abstract-03.html>
$62 billion
The projected national expenditure for veteran’s benefits in 2004.
See Table 509 at <http://www.census.gov/prod/www/statistical-abstract-03.html>
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