Nearly 80 years after Imperial Japan’s surrender ended World War II, the number of American veterans who served in the conflict has fallen to around 66,000, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
The estimate, from the VA’s 2024 projection data, is likely to be lower as many of the survivors are approaching or exceeding 100 years old.
Why It Matters
Around 16 million Americans served in World War II, with troops stationed around the globe, including in both the European and Pacific theaters. Many of those who served were very young men suddenly thrust into a brutal war that killed more than 400,000 American troops.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan (V-J) Day, observed in the U.S. on September 2—the day in 1945 when Japan formally signed its surrender, marking the official end of World War II. Some commemorations recognize V-J Day as August 14, when fighting with Japan ended and the armistice was declared.
Near the end of the conflict, the United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, on August 6 and August 9, 1945, respectively. The bombings devastated both cities, killing tens of thousands instantly and leaving others with lifelong effects from radiation exposure.
What To Know
There are currently World War II veterans living in every U.S. state except Alaska, according to the VA. California, which has the largest state population, also has the largest number of surviving veterans—around 7,455, according to data from the VA and the National WWII Museum in New Orleans.
Florida follows, with approximately 5,511 living veterans, while Pennsylvania, New York, and Texas each have between around 3,500 and 3,900.
Wyoming and Vermont, the least populated states in the U.S., also have the lowest numbers of living WWII veterans, dipping under 100.
WWII veterans now make up less than half a percent of the 16 million Americans who served decades ago. The VA projects that by 2029, just over 7,000 will still be living, with most expected to have died by 2035.
What People Are Saying
Stephen J. Watson, president and CEO of the National WWII Museum, said in an online statement: “Preserving the stories of the men and women who served in World War II has been at the heart of our institution since its founding. We have the enormous responsibility to ensure that the memories and experiences of the war will not be lost as those who lived through it leave this world. It is our hope that this Museum, built in honor of the WWII generation, will allow visitors to connect with history and the people who sacrificed so much during World War II for years to come.”
The Department of Veterans Affairs wrote in a post for Memorial Day 2024: “The U.S. armed forces in World War II reflected the multi-racial and ethnic composition of American society. The military’s ranks included over one million African Americans, 500,000 Latino Americans, 25,000 Native Americans, and between 250,000 and 350,000 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (6). African American and Japanese American soldiers served in segregated units.”
What Happens Next
V-J Day will be marked in the U.S. on September 2.
The post Map Shows Where the Last Surviving WWII Veterans Live in the US appeared first on Newsweek.
