According to the Pew Research Center, about 29% of all veterans surveyed have been involved in combat at some point while serving in the military.
The percentage is higher (49%) among veterans who served after 9/11, with just 24% for veterans who served before 9/11.
Interestingly, 51% of veterans surveyed say that they knew and served with someone who was seriously injured while serving. 40% of surveyed veterans say they knew and served with someone who was killed while serving.
What are combat veterans?
Combat veterans are people who have experienced combat in a war or battle. This typically means they interacted with enemy forces with an intent to attack and/or defend themselves.
Whatever their experience, they have seen and experienced things that most people could never imagine. This makes them very special and unique people.
How many US presidents were combat veterans?
21 presidents of the United States have served in some capacity in the military, making them veterans. However, just 18 participated in active combat. The complete list of US presidents that were combat veterans can be found below:
- George Washington: Revolutionary War (Continental Army)
- James Monroe: Revolutionary War (Continental Army)
- Andrew Jackson: War of 1812 (Army – Battle of New Orleans)
- William Henry Harrison: Indian campaigns (Army)
- John Tyler: War of 1812 (Army)
- Zachary Taylor: War of 1812, Black Hawk War, Second Seminole War, Mexican-American War (Army)
- Franklin Pierce: Mexican War (Army)
- Ulysses S. Grant: Mexican War and Civil War (Army)
- Rutherford B. Hayes: Civil War (Army)
- James A. Garfield: Civil War (Army)
- Chester A. Arthur: Civil War (Army)
- Benjamin Harrison: Civil War (Army)
- William McKinley: Civil War (Army)
- Theodore Roosevelt: Spanish American War (Army)
- Harry Truman: World War I (Army)
- John F. Kennedy: World War II (Navy)
- Gerald Ford: World War II (Navy)
- George H.W. Bush: World War II (Navy)