Virginia Military Dead Database Introduction

The index contains the following information on approximately 54,628 Virginians:
Name with Prefix and/or Suffix
Rank, Unit (Company, Regiment, Ship, Squadron, etc.)
Branch of Service (Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard, Merchant Marine, Red Cross, etc.)
Conflict (See Conflict Codes list for an explanation of the codes appearing in this column.)
Race, Gender
Date, Place, and Cause of Death (See Cause of Death list for an explanation of the codes appearing in this column.)
Residence (Town/City/County)
Source(s) of Data
Notes/Additional Information (e.g., alternative residence, burial location, conflicting information, etc.)
Links to Other Sources

Entries in the index use historical terminology found in the original records, including outdated and offensive terms related to race and ethnicity.

This index has been compiled from approximately 1,120 sources. Inevitably, some of these sources conflict with one another. Obvious errors have been corrected. The absence of data from any field has no meaning except that the information was not found in the cited sources.

As of December 2014, updates are no longer being made to the database. Contact Library Reference Services with questions or error reports.

 *   Sources for these conflicts are shared and appear on a combined Sources List.
**  Sources for these conflicts are shared and appear on a combined Sources List.
*** Sources for these conflicts are shared and appear on a combined Sources List.

French & Indian War, 1754–1763

163 Virginia military deaths have been identified in this conflict between the British, French, and their respective Indigenous allies. Many more Virginia civilians also died.

Dunmore’s War, 1774

48 Virginian deaths have been identified in this conflict between the Colony of Virginia and Native American groups in the Ohio Valley.

Conflicts With Indigenous Peoples

Following the arrival of Europeans in Virginia, centuries of armed conflict ensued between European settlers and Indigenous peoples defending their sovereignty. This index identifies 47 Virginians who died in violent conflicts between Europeans and Native groups. A few Native Virginian deaths were included by the original indexer, but this tally represents a small fraction of the Native Virginian deaths that resulted from European colonialism.

American Revolution, 1775–1783

1,675 Virginians who died in the American Revolution have been identified.

War of 1812, 1812–1815

Action in Virginia during the War of 1812 included Britain's attempt in June 1813 to capture Norfolk and numerous raids on Virginia towns and plantations on the Chesapeake Bay. The constant threat of attack kept Virginia militia active throughout the war. We have identified 825 Virginians who died during this war.

For further information, consult Virginia's Participation in the War of 1812: Selected Resources in the Library of Virginia.

Seminole Wars, 1812–1818, 1835–1842, 1855–1858

These wars represented the United States' effort to acquire Florida from Spain and forcibly remove the Seminole population. Some Virginians in the regular army participated; of these, 31 Virginian deaths have been identified.

Texas Revolution, 1836

In 1836, native–born Texans joined with settlers from the United States to initiate an armed rebellion against the Mexican government, culminating in the formation of an independent Texan state. This index identifies 16 Virginians killed at the Alamo, seven more killed later at Goliad, and six killed elsewhere.

Mexican War, 1846–1848

The Mexican War was a conflict between the United States and Mexico that followed the U.S. annexation of Texas. Hundreds of Virginians in both the regular army and the Virginia militia participated in the Mexican War, and at least 160 died.

Civil War, 1861–1865

The entries in this index include casualties from both sides of the American Civil War. 32,751 Virginian deaths have been identified.

Spanish-American War, 1898

This war of imperialism was waged to establish direct and indirect U.S. control over Spanish colonies in the Caribbean and Pacific. 111 Virginian deaths have been identified. The database includes the names of 15 Virginia sailors killed or missing in action as a result of the explosion of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor on February 15, 1898, although these deaths were likely the result of an accident, not Spanish action as was claimed at the time.

The most common cause of death for Virginia soldiers during the Spanish-American War was disease. Only one Virginian is known to have been killed in action during the Spanish-American War. There are several cases in which only the date and not the cause of death is known.

For further information, consult "Virginia’s Participation in the Spanish American War, 1898; the Philippine–American War, 1899–1901; and the China Relief Expedition, 1900–1901: Selected Resources in the Library of Virginia” (pdf).

Philippine–American War, 1899–1902

After the Philippines was transferred from Spain to the United States, the United States refused to recognize Filipino independence. The Philippine-American War followed. 52 Virginia military deaths have been identified during this period. Of those, the Philippines is the place of death for only five. In many cases the place of death and place of residence were not recorded.

For further information, consult "Virginia’s Participation in the Spanish American War, 1898; the Philippine–American War, 1899–1901; and the China Relief Expedition, 1900–1901: Selected Resources in the Library of Virginia” (pdf).

Mexican Border Punitive Expedition, 1916–1917

This conflict was an unsuccessful attempt to capture the Mexican revolutionary Francisco "Pancho" Villa, after Villa's forces attacked a town in New Mexico. Approximately 3,000 soldiers from the following Virginia National Guard units were mobilized at Richmond in June 1916 for duty on the Mexican border at Brownsville, Texas:

1st and 2nd Infantry Regiments

1st Battalion Field Artillery and Separate Battery C

Company A, Signal Corps; Company A, Engineers

Field Hospital No. 1

1st Squadron Virginia Cavalry

The index contains the names of 10 National Guard and regular army soldiers from Virginia who died during this conflict.

World War I, 1914–1918

The index contains 3,706 entries for World War I casualties, including a few duplicate entries. The index is known to be incomplete.

For further information, consult "Virginia's Participation in World War I: Selected Resources in the Library of Virginia."

World War II, 1939–1945

The index contains 11,444 entries for World War II casualties, including many duplicate entries.

Cold War, 1945–1991

The Cold War was often conducted in secret by personnel carrying out intelligence gathering and military reconnaissance. Six Virginian deaths have been identified.

Korean War, 1951–1953

In addition to those who died in the theater of the Korean War, the index includes members of the Virginia National Guard who died closer to home during this period. Virginians who died in Korea after the armistice was signed in 1953 are also included. There are currently 979 entries listed.

For further information, consult "Virginia's Participation in the Korean War 1950–1953+: Selected Resources In The Library of Virginia."

Vietnam War, 1961–1975

In addition to those who died in the theater of the Vietnam War, data for this conflict also includes members of the Virginia National Guard who died closer to home during this period. 1,490 Virginians were killed in this conflict.

For further information, consult "Virginia's Participation in the Vietnam War 1961–1975: Selected Resources In The Library of Virginia."

Grenada, 1983

The United States invaded Grenada in October 1983. Among 19 U.S. forces killed was one Virginian.

Persian Gulf War, 1990–1991

Of the hundreds of Virginians who participated in the Persian Gulf War, 16 died.

For further information, consult "Virginia's Participation in Persian Gulf War 1990–1991: Selected Resources In The Library of Virginia."

Grenada, 1983

War on Terrorism, 2000–2014

Data for this series of conflicts includes military personnel killed in the attacks on the USS Cole on October 12, 2000, the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, and in Afghanistan and elsewhere since those dates. As of 2014, 221 Virginian deaths have been identified.

War in Iraq, 2003–2014

As of 2014, 185 Virginians had died in the Iraq War.

Peacetime/Interwar/Peacekeeping, Various

This heading covers Virginia military personnel who have died in service during periods between the conflicts listed above or during peacekeeping operations at any time. 742 individuals have been identified.

Conflict Codes

The following abbreviations/acronyms/codes are used in the Conflict column of the Virginia Military Dead Database to denote the corresponding conflict.