Global War on Terrorism Memorial
Honor and remember the fallen at the National Infantry Museum’s Global War on Terrorism Memorial. Search for loved ones, explore tributes, and learn the stories behind America’s longest war.
To Honor Their Sacrifice
Since the Global War on Terrorism began on September 11, 2001, over 7,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines have given their lives in defense of our nation. To honor their sacrifice, the Global War on Terrorism Memorial was dedicated at the National Infantry Museum October 16, 2017.
The memorial includes granite panels engraved with the names of all service members who have given their lives in the conflict, narrative panels explaining the conflict, and murals with artwork from each service.
It also includes a 13’ steel beam from World Trade Center Tower 1 that was presented to Fort Benning by NYC Firefighters. In the center of the memorial is a five-sided platform paying tribute to those who were killed in the Pentagon.
Atop the platform is a bronze figure of SPC Ross McGinnis, representing the leader of a nine-person Infantry team. Flanking the statue are the other eight members of an Infantry Squad, collectively representing the cornerstone of American military might.
The memorial is rededicated each year – adding names of the recently fallen honoring the sacrifice of the service member and their families.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is honored on the memorial?
The joint-service memorial stands in honor of all Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines who have served in the Global War on Terrorism since 9/11 and the families who support them. This includes active duty, veterans and those who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice defending their country.
What are the criteria for names on the memorial?
The 7,048 names etched on the memorial’s black granite panels come from the Defense Casualty Analysis System, an application maintained by the U.S. government’s Defense Manpower Data Center.
The DCAS list includes all service members who died while in the Global War on Terrorism theater of operations, regardless of their cause of death. Service members who later die of wounds inflicted while in the theater are added to the list. If you believe a name has been erroneously omitted or misspelled, please contact DMDC/DEERS Support Office at 800-538-9552.
The list is up to date as of September 6, 2025. Names added to the official list will be added to the memorial once each year.
How do I find a service member on the memorial?
Enter a first or last name in the search box below to search the memorial database. Results will display the service member’s name, rank, branch, date of death, operation, and the memorial panel and row location where their name is inscribed.
If it’s a multi-service memorial, why isn’t the Coast Guard represented?
To date, one member of the Coast Guard has given his life in the Global War on Terrorism.
However, DC3 Nathan Bruckenthal was attached to the Navy aboard USS Firebolt at the time of his death and is therefore listed in Department of Defense casualty records as a Navy casualty. He and six other coalition sailors were attempting to board a small boat when it exploded near the Iraqi Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminal.
Bruckenthal was the first Coast Guard member killed in action since the Vietnam War. His name is engraved on Panel 2 of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial.
How was SPC McGinnis selected to represent the Infantry squad?
Ross McGinnis was just 19 years old when he threw himself on a grenade that had been thrown into the Humvee he was riding in. Although he easily could have escaped the vehicle, he chose to absorb the full force of the blast, which killed him instantly but saved the lives of four crew members.
This remarkable act of heroism resulted in the awarding of the country’s highest decoration of valor. McGinnis is the only Infantryman to date to receive the Medal of Honor posthumously in the Global War on Terrorism.
Memorial Name Search
Please enter your service member’s last name and click submit.
