THE LEGACY OF THE WWII GENERATION
Every day, memories of World War II are disappearing from living history. The men and women who fought and won this great conflict are now in their 90s or older; according to US Department of Veterans Affairs statistics, 66,143 of the 16.4 million Americans who served in World War II are alive as of 2024.
With less than 1 percent of the 16.4 million Americans who served during World War II still with us today, The National WWII Museum’s mission to tell the story of the American experience in the war that changed the world is more crucial than ever. Our Museum is committed to honoring those who secured the freedom we cherish and carrying on the legacies of the WWII generation into the future.
“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,” said Stephen J. Watson, President & CEO of the Museum. “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 graph below uses statistics from the US Department of Veterans Affairs to emphasize the urgency of our mission. The projections for each year are updated in September and reflect the 2024 statistics.
Surviving WWII Veterans
Living WWII Veterans By State 2024
Alabama 561
Alaska 0
Arizona 1,381
Arkansas 376
California 7,455
Colorado 876
Connecticut 1,266
Delaware 275
District of Columbia 106
Florida 5,511
Georgia 1,359
Hawaii 282
Idaho 318
Illinois 2,531
Indiana 1,271
Iowa 429
Kansas 352
Kentucky 714
Louisiana 306
Maine 328
Maryland 1,321
Massachusetts 1,370
Michigan 2,520
Minnesota 1,786
Mississippi 502
Missouri 1,321
Montana 379
Nebraska 236
Nevada 497
New Hampshire 891
New Jersey 1,629
New Mexico 55
New York 3,587
North Carolina 1,710
North Dakota 265
Ohio 2,352
Oklahoma 658
Oregon 1,458
Pennsylvania 3,930
Rhode Island 459
South Carolina 1,077
South Dakota 118
Tennessee 1,221
Texas 3,786
Utah 747
Vermont 95
Virginia 2,121
Washington 1,928
West Virginia 196
Wisconsin 1,795
Wyoming 82
Puerto Rico 234
Island Areas & Foreign 121
Grand Total 66,143