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'''Killed in action''' (or '''KIA''') is a ] classification used ], generally used to describe the deaths of their own forces by other hostile forces or by "]" during combat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/doddict/data/k/02986.html|title=U.S. Department of Defense Dictionary: killed in action|accessdate=2007-02-04}}</ref> The ] (DOD) says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to hostile attack. KIA's do not come from incidents such as accidental vehicle crashes, terrorism, or other "non-hostile" means: these casualties occur from ]s while in combat.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.lectlaw.com/def/j059.htm|title=The 'Lectric Law Library's Legal Lexicon On * Justifiable Homicide *|accessdate=2007-02-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.nolo.com/definition.cfm/Term/51AB22D3-86AB-4B55-8648BC28B45909C0/alpha/H/|title=Nolo Press Legal Definition Homicide|accessdate=2007-02-04}}</ref> While U.S. front-line-ground-combat forces remain male only, U.S. naval, air, and support troops contain females, as well as other nations' forces, and militaries can consider their deaths due to combat to be KIA. Militaries use the term '''killed in action''' ('''KIA''') as a casualty classification. They generally use it to describe the deaths of their own forces by other hostile forces or by "]" during combat. U.S. front-line-ground-combat forces remain male only. However, U.S. naval, air, and support troops contain females, as well as other nations' forces, and militaries can consider them KIA. The ] (DOD) says the KIA (man or woman) need not have fired his weapon but has received hostile attack. KIA do not come from accidents, such as accidental vehicle crashes, terrorism, or other "non-hostile" means. These casualties occur from ] while in combat.<br><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/doddict/data/k/02986.html|title=U.S. Department of Defense Dictionary: killed in action|accessdate=2007-02-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.lectlaw.com/def/j059.htm|title=The 'Lectric Law Library's Legal Lexicon On * Justifiable Homicide *|accessdate=2007-02-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.nolo.com/definition.cfm/Term/51AB22D3-86AB-4B55-8648BC28B45909C0/alpha/H/|title=Nolo Press Legal Definition Homicide|accessdate=2007-02-04}}</ref>


Further, KIA denotes one to have been killed in action on the battlefield whereas someone who died of wounds (DOW) survived to reach a medical treatment facility. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) also uses DWRIA rather than DOW for died of wounds received in action. However, historically militaries and historians have used the latter acronym. Someone '''KIA''' died on the battlefield whereas someone who '''died of wounds''' (]) survived to reach a medical treatment facility. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) also uses '''DWRIA''' rather than '''DOW''' for '''died of wounds received in action'''. However, historically militaries and historians have used the latter acronym. ]


] cemetery, or the ], near Colleville-sur-mer in Normandy, France.]] ] cemetery, or the ], near Colleville-sur-mer in Normandy, France.]]


== Societies honoring KIA == == Societies Honoring KIA ==


Many societies venerate those killed in action. They set aside days of remembrance for their militaries and combat dead, and they build memorials and cenotaphs in honor of their fallen. The families of those who die in combat, especially their next-of-kin, sometimes receive preferential treatment such as military honors, exemption from taxes, and financial awards. National militaries also distinguish those killed in action with ] and awards. Many societies, both past and present, view those KIA as heroes. They set aside days of remembrance for their militaries and combat dead, and they build memorials and cenotaphs in honor of their fallen. They also hold ]. The families of those who die in combat, especially their next-of-kin, sometimes receive preferential treatment such as military honors, exemption from taxes, and financial awards. National militaries also distinguish those killed in action with ceremonies and awards.


Some groups aim to bring respect back into the U.S. ] backed by a bipartisan group chartered by Congress, asks Americans to honor their fallen at 3PM local time on the last Monday in May, the day the United States of America currently honors its '''KIA'''. ] previously occurred on ], and some, such as the ] (VFW) and ] (SUVCW), also advocate returning to this fixed date.
⚫ One classic speech on KIA comes from ] ''Funeral Oration'' (after 490 B.C.), which appears in ]' '']'' in which , Pericles honors the Athenian war dead from "one of the opening battles of the ]." <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~wldciv/world_civ_reader/world_civ_reader_1/pericles.html Washington State University's reader|title= Pericles' Funeral Oration|accessdate=2007-02-04}}</ref> ] also talks about KIA in his book, ]. For example, he has his character Socrates ask Adeimantus rhetorically, "hen a man dies gloriously in war shall we not say, in the first place, that he is of the golden race?" (Book V, Ch. 468-469) Adeimantus replying in agreement says, "To be sure." <ref>{{cite web|url=http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/republic.html|title=The Internet Classics Archive | The Republic by Plato | accessdate = 2007-02-04}}</ref>

The VFW stated in a 2002 Memorial Day Address, "Changing the date merely to create three-day weekends has undermined the very meaning of the day. No doubt, this has contributed greatly to the general public's nonchalant observance of Memorial Day." Since 1998, ]'s Senator ], a veteran of World War II, has repeatedly introduced measures to return Memorial Day to its traditional day on ]

Common sense indicates that the side with the most KIA loses the conflict: It's kill or be killed, a clear and present danger. However, cases exist where the opposite happens. The ] provides one example of where the victorious side had more KIA than the losing side. ] and the U.S. government's policy to reunite the country provided one major reason the victors had more battle dead in the American Civil War.

Likewise, a smaller force can sometimes beat a larger one; ] (]) provides a classic example. However, the idea that when you have less enemies to fight you have a greater chance to win provides one reason for a policy of maiming or killing enemy forces.

⚫ One classic speech on KIA comes from ] ''Funeral Oration'' (after 490 B.C.), which appears in ]' '']'' in which , Pericles honors the Athenian war dead from "one of the opening battles of the ]." (See for the text of the classic speech.) ] also talks about KIA in his book, ]. For example, he has his character Socrates ask Adeimantus rhetorically, "hen a man dies gloriously in war shall we not say, in the first place, that he is of the golden race?" (Book V, Ch. 468-469) Adeimantus replying in agreement says, "To be sure." <br><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~wldciv/world_civ_reader/world_civ_reader_1/pericles.html Washington State University's reader|title= Pericles' Funeral Oration|accessdate=2007-02-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/republic.html|title=The Internet Classics Archive | The Republic by Plato | accessdate = 2007-02-04}}</ref>


== See also== == See also==
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== Notes == == Notes ==
<references/> <references/>

== Similar Terminology ==

] (Died Of Wounds): Is different to KIA because they survived to reach a medical treatment facility. Military historians use this term more than '''DWRIA'''. e.g. See poem by Siegfried Sassoon or references to the term in the .

'''DWRIA''' (Died of Wounds Received in Action): Term used by ] instead of '''DOW'''.

==Other Military Terminology==
* ] &ndash; (Wounded in Action)
* ] &ndash; (Missing in Action)
* ] &ndash; (Prisoner of War)
* ] &ndash; (Absent Without Official Leave)


== External links ==
=== Support for U.S. KIA Families ===
*
USAKIA, a nonprofit to benefit KIA and DOW families, has memorials and other events.
*
A government bipartisan committee to honor U.S. KIA, it also wants to put the meaning back into ].
*
*

=== Dictonaries ===
*
*
*
*
*
*
*


] ]
] ]



] ]

Revision as of 08:04, 7 February 2007

Temporary grave of an American machine-gunner during the Battle of Normandy.

Militaries use the term killed in action (KIA) as a casualty classification. They generally use it to describe the deaths of their own forces by other hostile forces or by "friendly fire" during combat. U.S. front-line-ground-combat forces remain male only. However, U.S. naval, air, and support troops contain females, as well as other nations' forces, and militaries can consider them KIA. The United States Department of Defense (DOD) says the KIA (man or woman) need not have fired his weapon but has received hostile attack. KIA do not come from accidents, such as accidental vehicle crashes, terrorism, or other "non-hostile" means. These casualties occur from homicides while in combat.

Someone KIA died on the battlefield whereas someone who died of wounds (DOW) survived to reach a medical treatment facility. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) also uses DWRIA rather than DOW for died of wounds received in action. However, historically militaries and historians have used the latter acronym. See below for various references under "Similar Terminology" and "External Links" for further information on acronyms and definitions.

The Omaha Beach cemetery, or the World War II Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, near Colleville-sur-mer in Normandy, France.

Societies Honoring KIA

Many societies, both past and present, view those KIA as heroes. They set aside days of remembrance for their militaries and combat dead, and they build memorials and cenotaphs in honor of their fallen. They also hold ceremonies. The families of those who die in combat, especially their next-of-kin, sometimes receive preferential treatment such as military honors, exemption from taxes, and financial awards. National militaries also distinguish those killed in action with ceremonies and awards.

Some groups aim to bring respect back into the U.S. Memorial Day. The National Moment of Remembrance, backed by a bipartisan group chartered by Congress, asks Americans to honor their fallen at 3PM local time on the last Monday in May, the day the United States of America currently honors its KIA. Memorial Day previously occurred on May 30, and some, such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW), also advocate returning to this fixed date.

The VFW stated in a 2002 Memorial Day Address, "Changing the date merely to create three-day weekends has undermined the very meaning of the day. No doubt, this has contributed greatly to the general public's nonchalant observance of Memorial Day." Since 1998, Hawaii's Senator Daniel Inouye, a veteran of World War II, has repeatedly introduced measures to return Memorial Day to its traditional day on May 30.

Common sense indicates that the side with the most KIA loses the conflict: It's kill or be killed, a clear and present danger. However, cases exist where the opposite happens. The American Civil War provides one example of where the victorious side had more KIA than the losing side. Abraham Lincoln's and the U.S. government's policy to reunite the country provided one major reason the victors had more battle dead in the American Civil War.

Likewise, a smaller force can sometimes beat a larger one; Cannae (216BC) provides a classic example. However, the idea that when you have less enemies to fight you have a greater chance to win provides one reason for a policy of maiming or killing enemy forces.

One classic speech on KIA comes from Pericles' Funeral Oration (after 490 B.C.), which appears in Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War in which , Pericles honors the Athenian war dead from "one of the opening battles of the Peloponnesian War." (See Washington State University's reader for the text of the classic speech.) Plato also talks about KIA in his book, The Republic. For example, he has his character Socrates ask Adeimantus rhetorically, "hen a man dies gloriously in war shall we not say, in the first place, that he is of the golden race?" (Book V, Ch. 468-469) Adeimantus replying in agreement says, "To be sure." See the entire text of The Republic here courtesy MIT.

See also

Notes

  1. "U.S. Department of Defense Dictionary: killed in action". Retrieved 2007-02-04.
  2. "The 'Lectric Law Library's Legal Lexicon On * Justifiable Homicide *". Retrieved 2007-02-04.
  3. "Nolo Press Legal Definition Homicide". Retrieved 2007-02-04.
  4. Washington State University's reader "Pericles' Funeral Oration". Retrieved 2007-02-04. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  5. "The Internet Classics Archive". Retrieved 2007-02-04. {{cite web}}: Text "The Republic by Plato" ignored (help)

Similar Terminology

DOW (Died Of Wounds): Is different to KIA because they survived to reach a medical treatment facility. Military historians use this term more than DWRIA. e.g. See poem "Died of Wounds" by Siegfried Sassoon or references to the term in the National Archives.

DWRIA (Died of Wounds Received in Action): Term used by NATO instead of DOW.

Other Military Terminology

  • WIA – (Wounded in Action)
  • MIA – (Missing in Action)
  • POW – (Prisoner of War)
  • AWOL – (Absent Without Official Leave)


External links

Support for U.S. KIA Families

USAKIA, a nonprofit to benefit KIA and DOW families, has memorials and other events.

A government bipartisan committee to honor U.S. KIA, it also wants to put the meaning back into Memorial Day.

Dictonaries

Categories: