1941-1945 |
 World War II
 Pacific Ocean/Western Europe
The U.S. enters World War II after Japanese planes attack Pearl Harbor in Hawaii; in 1945, Germany and Japan surrender to Allied forces. |
1950-1953 |
Korean War
 Korea
The U.S. battles North Korean soldiers and then Chinese soldiers before an armistice is signed in 1953. |
1955 |
Defense of Chinese Nationalists
 Taiwan
The U.S. 7th Fleet helps Nationalist Chinese evacuate 25,000 troops and 17,000 civilians from China to Taiwan to escape victorious Communist forces. |
1961 |
Bay of Pigs Invasion
 Cuba
A CIA-backed invasion of Cuba fails. |
1962 |
Anti-Communist Intervention
 Thailand
President John F. Kennedy orders 5,000 troops to Thailand to support the right-wing Laotian government. |
1955-1973 |
 Vietnam War
 Vietnam
In 1955, U.S. advisers are sent to Vietnam; in 1964 Congress authorizes President Lyndon B. Johnson to "repel any armed attack" in the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. A cease-fire is declared in 1973. |
1965 |
Dominican Crisis
 Dominican Republic
Marines invade the Dominican Republic at the start of a civil war; troops withdraw in 1966. |
1975 |
Mayaguez Incident
 Cambodia
A U.S. merchant ship is rescued from Cambodians by U.S. Navy and Marines. |
1980 |
Operation Eagle Claw
 Iran
A military mission to free American hostages in Iran fails. |
1983 |
Operation Urgent Fury
 Grenada
U.S. Marines and Rangers remove U.S. medical students from Grenada. |
1986 |
Operation El Dorado Canyon
 Libya
U.S. war planes strike Libya in retaliation for the Libyan bombing of a West Berlin disco. |
1990-1991 |
Persian Gulf War
 Kuwait
The U.S. leads a multi-nation coalition against Iraq after that country invades Kuwait; Iraq surrenders. |
1992-1993 |
Operation Restore Hope
 Somalia
U.S. troops go to Somalia to help restore order and deliver food during a period of unrest and famine. |
1994-1995 |
Operation Uphold Democracy
 Haiti
The U.S. Army sends troops to Haiti in September 1994 to help restore a democratic government. |
1994- |
Balkan War
 Balkans
The United States bombs Bosnia to prevent "ethnic cleansing" by Serbs in that region and then sends troops to Bosnia to join a NATO peacekeeping force there, as well as in other Balkan areas including Macedonia and Kosovo. |
