Ages of Servicemen in Wars

A guide to help you determine when and-or if your ancestor fought in one of the American Wars. The first chart lists the wars chronologically, the second alphabetically.

Use the following tables to determine in which wars an ancestor may have served. The first column indicates the name of the war, and the second its years of duration. The third column tells the typical birth years for men entered in that war, although younger or older soldiers may have enlisted. The fourth column indicates the typical ages of those serving in each war.

Ages of Servicemen in Wars--Arranged Chronologically by War
{| class="vertical listing"

Typical Ages
1899-1902
 * King William's War
 * 1689-1697
 * 1629-1681
 * 16-60
 * Queen Anne's War
 * 1702-1713
 * 1642-1697
 * 16-60
 * King George's War
 * 1744-1748
 * 1684 - 1732
 * 16-60
 * French &amp; Indian War
 * 1755-1763
 * 1695 - 1739
 * 16-60
 * Revolutionary War
 * 1775-1783
 * 1715 - 1767
 * 16-60
 * Indian Wars
 * 1780s-1890s
 * 1720s - 1880s
 * Barbary Wars
 * 1800-1805
 * 1740 - 1789
 * 16-60
 * War of 1812
 * 1812-1815
 * 1752 - 1799
 * 16-60
 * Barbary Wars
 * 1815
 * 1755 - 1799
 * 16-60
 * Mexican War
 * 1846-1848
 * 1788 - 1832
 * 16-60
 * Civil War
 * 1861-1865
 * 1801 - 1849
 * 16-60
 * Spanish American War
 * 1898
 * 1838 - 1882
 * 16-60
 * Philippine Insurrection
 * 16-60
 * Civil War
 * 1861-1865
 * 1801 - 1849
 * 16-60
 * Spanish American War
 * 1898
 * 1838 - 1882
 * 16-60
 * Philippine Insurrection
 * 16-60
 * Philippine Insurrection
 * Philippine Insurrection

1918-1919
 * 1838 - 1886
 * 16-60
 * World War I
 * World War I


 * 1858 - 1900
 * 18-60
 * World War II
 * 1941-1945
 * 1881 - 1927
 * 18-60
 * Korean War
 * 1950-1953
 * 1890 - 1935
 * 18-60
 * Vietnam War
 * 1965-1973
 * 1905 - 1955
 * 18-60
 * Gulf War
 * 1991
 * 1931-1973
 * 18-60
 * Afghanistan War
 * 2002
 * 1942 - 1984
 * 18-60
 * Iraq War
 * 2003-
 * 1943 - 1989
 * 18-60
 * }
 * Iraq War
 * 2003-
 * 1943 - 1989
 * 18-60
 * }
 * }

Ages of Servicemen in Wars--Arranged Alphabetically by War
Use the following table to determine in which wars an ancestor might have served. The first column indicates the name of the War and the second its years of duration. The third column tells the typical birth years for soldiers entered in that war, although younger or older people may have enlisted. The fourth column indicates the typical ages of those serving in each war.

INFORMATION FROM: Family History Library US/Canada Consultants, January 2004, MJM.