Veterans of U.S. Wars and Their Dependents

Veterans' benefits have existed since the origins of the nation. As of September 2007, over three million veterans, their dependents, and survivors of deceased veterans are receiving VA benefits and services.

The last dependent of a Revolutionary War veteran died in 1911; the War of 1812's last dependent died in 1946; and the last dependent of the Mexican War died in 1962. Some 108 children and 125 widows of Spanish-American War veterans are receiving benefits today. There is in fact 3 children of Civil War veterans who still draw VA benefits.

	Veterans	Children¹	Parents	Surviving spouses
Civil War	—	3	—	__
Indian Wars	—	—	—	—
Spanish-American War	—	108	—	125
Mexican Border	—	16	—	63
World War I	4	3,639	—	6,670
World War II	406,289	15,300	186	227,412
Korean Conflict	221,923	3,348	372	60,917
Vietnam Era	1,109,576	9,647	3,426	155,258
Gulf War²	729,426	12,919	826	13,759
Total wartime	2,467,218	44,980	4,810	464,204
Nonservice-connected	324,686	19,764	—	181,585
Service-connected	2,735,559	28,454	6,132	315,192

1. Children connotes a minor or a dependent adult.

2. For VA benefits purposes, the Gulf War period of service remains open-ended and also includes those discharged from 1991 to date.

Source: Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense. Web: www.va.gov/pressrel/amwars01.htm .

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