National Cemetery Administration

Civil War: 1861–1865

The American Civil War, fought between 1861 and 1865, was a defining moment in U.S. history. The conflict arose primarily over deep divisions concerning slavery and states’ rights. The Southern states, fearing that the growing political power of the Northern states would threaten their way of life and economy, which heavily depended on enslaved labor, seceded from the Union and formed the Confederate States of America. The Northern states, or the Union, led by President Abraham Lincoln, sought to preserve the United States as a single nation and eventually moved to abolish slavery.

The war was marked by large-scale battles, like Gettysburg and Antietam, and devastating loss of life on both sides. The Union’s industrial strength and larger population gradually wore down the Confederacy, despite the South’s skilled generals and strong fighting spirit. In 1865, after four years of bitter combat, the Confederacy surrendered. The war ended slavery in the United States, established the federal government’s authority over the states, and set the stage for Reconstruction and the long struggle for civil rights. While it reunited the nation, the Civil War left a legacy of scars, shaping the country’s identity and its path forward.

A total of 89 Medals of Honor including 3 double recipients were awarded to Veterans buried at VA national cemeteries for actions that occurred during the Civil War.

Indian Wars: 1817–1898

From 1817 to 1898, the United States waged a series of conflicts known as the Indian Wars, which were driven by the nation’s westward expansion. As settlers pushed beyond the Mississippi River and into the Great Plains, Rocky Mountains, and Southwest, they encountered Native American tribes who had long called these regions home. The U.S. government sought to clear the land for settlers, railroads, and industries, often disregarding prior treaties and promises. In response, many Native tribes resisted, leading to decades of fighting, raids, and military campaigns.

Key events included the Seminole Wars in Florida, the violent struggles in the Plains during the 1860s and 1870s, and famous battles like the Battle of Little Bighorn (1876) and the final confrontation at Wounded Knee (1890). By the end of the 19th century, most Native American tribes had been relocated to reservations, their populations diminished by war, disease, and poverty. The Indian Wars were not a single conflict but rather a long series of encounters that fundamentally altered the course of Native American history and the expansion of the United States.

A total of 75 Medals of Honor including 1 double recipient were awarded to Veterans buried at VA national cemeteries for actions that occurred during the Indian Wars.

Korean Campaigns: 1871

In 1866, the merchant ship SS General Sherman had gone missing while sailing Korean waters. Five years later, in 1871, an American naval expedition set off to Korea. Its aim was to open trade between the two countries and discover what had become of the General Sherman. The Korean government had never explained that the crew had been killed and the ship destroyed, because the sailors had embarked on raiding parties in Korea's sovereign waters.

The 1871 expedition, again sailing in Korea's sovereign waters, provoked Korea to attack. The U.S. forces demanded an apology for this, but did not deem the apology they received sufficient. In response, U.S. forces captured several Korean forts around Ganghwa Island. This resulted in Korea sending troops armed with modern weapons, and the U.S. fleet left Korea shortly thereafter. A treaty between the two nations was not reached until 1882, 11 years later.

A total of 4 Medals of Honor were awarded to Veterans buried at VA national cemeteries for actions that occurred during the 1871 Korean Campaigns. These include the first Veterans to receive the Medal of Honor in a foreign conflict.

Spanish-American War: 1898

The Spanish-American War, fought in 1898, began after years of rising tensions between the United States and Spain over Spain’s colonial rule in Cuba. American sympathy for the Cuban struggle for independence, combined with sensationalized reports of Spanish atrocities in newspapers, fueled public support for intervention. The situation reached a boiling point after the mysterious explosion of the U.S. battleship Maine in Havana Harbor, which many Americans blamed on Spain. In April 1898, the U.S. declared war, vowing to free Cuba and end Spanish control in the Americas.

The conflict was relatively short, lasting only a few months. Major battles were fought in the Caribbean and the Pacific, where U.S. forces quickly defeated the Spanish navy and seized key territories. In Cuba, American troops and volunteer units like the Rough Riders, famously led by Theodore Roosevelt, captured Spanish strongholds. By August 1898, Spain had surrendered. The Treaty of Paris, signed later that year, gave the United States control over former Spanish territories, including Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines.

A total of 16 Medals of Honor were awarded to Veterans buried at VA national cemeteries for actions that occurred during the Spanish-American War.

Philippine Insurrection: 1899–1902

After the end of the Spanish-American War in 1898, the United States had ownership over the Philippines. The Philippines attempted to establish independence, but the United States did not recognize these efforts, inciting an insurrection in early 1899. The United States declared the war over in 1902, but some rebels continued to fight. In 1916, with the passing of the Jones Act, the United States promised to eventually grant the Philippines independence, which it did thirty years later.

A total of 12 Medals of Honor were awarded to Veterans buried at VA national cemeteries for actions that occurred during the Philippine Insurrection.

Boxer Rebellion: 1899–1901

In 1900, an organization of rebels known as Boxers fought back against foreign influence in China by attacking and killing foreigners and Chinese Christians and damaging foreign property. Several nations, including the United States, sent forces to subdue the Boxers and protect those under attack. A year later, the Boxer Protocol was signed, ending the Boxer Rebellion.

A total of 14 Medals of Honor including 1 double recipient were awarded to Veterans buried at VA national cemeteries for actions that occurred during the Boxer Rebellion.

Philippines 1911

After the end of the Philippine-American War in 1902, the ethnic Moro population of the Philippines continued to fight against U.S. ownership of the Philippines from 1903 to 1913. Because the Moro peoples had refused to stop fighting, the earlier peace treaty did not apply to them. In 1903, attempting to suppress the uprisings, President Roosevelt created a Moro province in which he installed a military governor.

A total of 2 Medals of Honor were awarded to Veterans buried at VA national cemeteries for actions that occurred during the Philippine uprisings of 1911.

Mexican Campaigns / Battle of Veracruz: 1914

The Battle of Veracruz lasted from April to November of 1914. Mexico and the United States had strained relations due to the Mexican-American War, President Wilson’s lack of acknowledgement of the Mexican government, and the Tampico Affair.

In 1914, nine U.S. sailors were arrested for entering off-limit areas in Tampico, a city in Mexico. After the sailors were released, a naval commander requested a formal apology with a 21-gun salute. The apology was provided without the salute.

This event and the ongoing tensions culminated in the U.S. Navy occupying the port of Veracruz, where fighting broke out. The United States withdrew later that year after other South American powers became involved, and the dispute was eventually settled at a later peace conference.

A total of 7 Medals of Honor were awarded to Veterans buried at VA national cemeteries for actions that occurred during the 1914 Battle of Veracruz.

Haiti: 1915, 1919–1920

In 1914, President Wilson sent in U.S. Marines to Haiti to bring stability to the country, protect U.S. assets, and defend it from the influence of other foreign powers. Amidst general unrest throughout this occupation, several unpopular policies triggered a year-long uprising in 1919. The U.S. forces withdrew in 1934 under President Roosevelt’s Good Neighbor Policy, which attempted to improve relations with other nations by mitigating the United States' use of military force when attempting to maintain stability in those nations.

A total of 2 Medals of Honor were awarded to Veterans buried at VA national cemeteries for actions that occurred during the occupation of Haiti.

World War I: 1914–1918

Although World War I began in 1914, the United States did not enter the conflict until 1917. The war started in Europe as a struggle among powerful nations, including Britain, France, Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia. Over time, it turned into a massive and brutal fight involving trench warfare, new weapons like machine guns and poison gas, and heavy casualties. The United States initially remained neutral, but as German U-boats attacked American ships and Germany tried to forge secret alliances against the United States, public opinion shifted. In April 1917, the United States joined the Allies, bringing fresh troops and supplies to the exhausted European fronts.

The arrival of American forces gave the Allies a critical boost. U.S. soldiers participated in major offensives in France, helping push back the German army. By late 1918, the Allies had gained the upper hand, and Germany agreed to an armistice, effectively ending the war. World War I reshaped the global political landscape, leading to the collapse of empires and the creation of new nations. For the United States, it marked a turning point as the nation emerged as a significant world power. However, the war’s devastation and the harsh terms of the peace treaty set the stage for future conflicts.

A total of 11 Medals of Honor were awarded to Veterans buried at VA national cemeteries for actions that occurred during World War I.

World War II: 1939–1945

In the early days of World War II, the United States remained on the sidelines as conflict engulfed Europe, Africa, and Asia. However, the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 brought the United States fully into the struggle. American industry mobilized quickly, producing vast quantities of weapons, aircraft, and ships that were shared with Allies through initiatives like Lend-Lease. Together with British, Soviet, Chinese, and other Allied forces, American troops helped to mount a coordinated effort to turn back the Axis powers. The United States played a key role in campaigns such as the D-Day invasion of Normandy, which began the liberation of Western Europe, and in the fierce island-hopping battles of the Pacific that led to Japan’s defeat.

But victory was never America’s alone. Britain’s steadfast leadership, the Soviet Union’s massive sacrifices on the Eastern Front, and countless contributions from nations large and small ultimately sealed the Axis powers’ fate. In Asia, Chinese forces endured years of brutal conflict, and in Europe, resistance movements and colonial troops fought tirelessly to undermine enemy control. The Allied victory in 1945 wasn’t just a triumph of military might—it was a global effort that drew upon the courage, resilience, and unity of people from around the world, ending the war and setting the stage for a new chapter in human history.

A total of 90 Medals of Honor were awarded to Veterans buried at VA national cemeteries for actions that occurred during World War II.