There is nothing more difficult that waving goodbye to our soldiers, knowing full well that many will not return. On the other hand, one of the greatest joys in life is welcoming home someone who has survived a fight for justice.

Listed here are some of the wars that American men and women went abroad to fight.

After becoming a unified, independent country, we didn’t have to wait long for a good fight. From 1801-1805, and then again in 1815, the United States was at war with the Barbary States: Morocco, Algiers, Tunis and Tripoli. For centuries, these states had been profiting from their position on the African coast – seizing merchant vessels and blackmailing the world powers into paying for their “safety.” The United States refused, and Tripoli declared war; America’s biggest fear was that the other Barbary States would soon join. It is this war that is commemorated today in the Marine Corp Hymn. The US returned in 1815 to back diplomatic proceedings with a show of force…just in case.

We were busy fighting wars at home for much of the rest of the 19th century. But when we began fighting again, we were very busy! It wasn’t until our action in the Samoan Civil War from 1898-1899 that we left to fight again. We then intervened in China’s Boxer Rebellion of 1900.

From 1898-1913 we fought the Philippine-American War, also known as the Moro Wars. The basis of this conflict was set at the end of the Spanish-American War. Feeling our Imperialistic power, America claimed the Philippines – once a Spanish colony. Unfortunately, we didn’t understand Muslim culture and it lead to widespread violence. America declared war in 1899, and fought battle after vicious battle until 1902. President Theodore Roosevelt declared the end of the insurrection. There was a tenuous peace until 1904, when America created the Moro Province and declared military rule. Violence erupted and continued full-fledged until 1913, though the area has yet to settle into peace.

In 1903 the United States intervened in The Panamanian Revolution. From 1909-1933 we were assisting in The Banana Wars in Central America. In 1914 American Troops occupied Vera Cruz.

Then, in 1914, the world witnessed the start of “the war to end all wars.” The Great War, or the World War (later to be dubbed “The First”) began for the rest of the world well before American Involvement began in 1917. There were many contributing factors – The Franco Prussian War, the formation of The Dual Alliance between Germany and Austria-Hungary – later to become the Triple Alliance when Italy joins them, The Franco-Russian Alliance – which became The Triple Entente with the addition of Great Britain, The Morocco Crisis, and finally, in the summer of 1914, the War erupted when Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria is assassinated in Sarajevo. When the war first began, the American position was one of neutrality, then came a call for “peace without victory,” but when the Zimmermann note from Berlin to Mexico, promising US territory in exchange for help in the war, was intercepted by the British, America’s position was forced, and War was declared. By 1918, the war was over. The Germans had been defeated, and the next year the Treaty of Versailles was signed. But, the peace would not last…

Half starved by the depression that was ravaging the global economy, and feeling oppressed by the Treaty of Versailles, the Germans begin looking for a means to end their suffering – and a scapegoat for its cause. In 1933, a relatively unknown Hitler rises quickly to the position of Chancellor – then gives himself the rights of a dictator. Soon after, the Nazi party begins boycotting Jewish shops and advocating violence to end the “Jewish Problem.” In 1935 Hitler violates the Treaty of Versailles by introducing military conscription. Then, as before the First World War, we see the formation of deadly alliances. And, when Germany invades Poland, war is declared. Again, the US proclaims neutrality. On December 7, 1941 the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, and America was once again forced to war. The war raged throughout Europe and the Pacific until May 7, 1945 when the German Government issued an unconditional surrender to Allied forces. The war would require another few months, and two atomic blasts before V-J day – when Japan finally surrendered as well.

Then came the first war over Communism. In the Korean War (1950 - 1953), the US joined United Nation forces to stabilize democratic South Korea against invasion by North Korea and Communist China.

Then the American forces intervened on behalf of the government in Lebanon in 1958.

2 years later, the troops found themselves starting what was to become the longest of Americas wars. Raging from 1959 – 1975 it would be more than 15 years of frustrating attacks, and would be known as the only war United States forces ever claim to be a loss. The original plan was much the same as those for the Korean War – stabilize the South against invasion from the North. In the end, the death tolls on both sides were staggering. To this day, controversies surround what is known about this war.

From that time, the US was mostly involved with minor actions. In 1965 we intervened in the Dominican Republic. In 1975, we were involved in the Mayaguez Rescue Operation in Cambodia.

1980 was the beginning of another very busy period for American troops. 1980 saw one of the most dramatic hostage situations in our history – The Iranian Hostage Rescue, also known as “Desert One” and “Operation Eagle Claw.” In 1981 we were in conflict with Libya. From 1982-1984 we intervened in the hostilities between Syria and Leftist Lebanese Militias in Lebanon. In 1983 US forces invaded Grenada. In 1986, we went back to Libya. From 1987-1988 we fought The Tanker War or “Operation Earnest Will” in Iran. In 1989 we invaded Panama.

From 1990-1991 the US joined coalition forces in the Persian Gulf War “Operation Desert Storm” against Iraqi forces. Then we spent the next 12 years defending airspace in what some have dubbed The “No-Fly Zone” War. From 1992-1994 we intervened in Somalia. In 1994 we occupied Haiti. From 1994-1995 we joined NATO forces in “Operation Deliberate Force” in Bosnia, then intervened in Bosnia and Herzegovina as part of the NATO Peacekeeping forces. 1998 saw bombings of US Embassies in Afghanistan and Sudan in The Bin Laden War, and also the “Desert Fox” campaign – another battle in the ongoing conflict with Iraq. In 1999 we assisted in the Kosovo war.

In 2001, the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon catapulted the United States into the Afghanistan War, also called “Operation Enduring Freedom.” This was followed quickly by the onslaught of “Operation Iraqi Freedom” which began in 2003 and, as of April 2008 is still raging.