Christmas at War: Every Conflict Where U.S. Service Members Spent the Holidays Deployed

Christmas is one of the most emotionally significant days on the calendar for U.S. military personnel stationed far from home. From the frozen encampments of the Revolutionary War to modern deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, American troops have spent more than two centuries observing Christmas in war zones, occupied territories, forward operating bases, ships at sea, and remote outposts.

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Deployed at Christmas coin

This blog provides a chronological list of all major U.S. wars, the years they occurred, and confirmation that American service members were deployed during Christmas for each one.

1. American Revolutionary War (War of Independence)

Years: 1775–1783
Christmases Deployed: 1775, 1776, 1777, 1778, 1779, 1780, 1781, 1782

American troops spent every Christmas of the Revolution on campaign.
Most famous Christmas moment: George Washington crossing the Delaware on the night of December 25–26, 1776, launching a surprise attack on Hessian forces in Trenton.

2. War of 1812

Years: 1812–1815
Christmases Deployed: 1812, 1813, 1814

U.S. sailors, Marines, and soldiers fought in the Great Lakes region, along the Canadian border, and at sea. The Treaty of Ghent was signed on December 24, 1814—but fighting continued until news of peace reached commanders.

3. Mexican–American War

Years: 1846–1848
Christmases Deployed: 1846, 1847

American forces were deployed deep into Mexico by Christmas 1847 during Winfield Scott’s campaign.

4. American Civil War

Years: 1861–1865
Christmases Deployed: 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864

Union and Confederate troops were entrenched through four wartime Christmas seasons—from the winter camps of Virginia to Sherman's March in 1864.

5. Spanish–American War

Years: 1898
Christmases Deployed: None

The war ended in August 1898. U.S. forces were no longer in active combat at Christmas that year.

However, postwar occupation in Cuba and the Philippines did have U.S. troops deployed for Christmas 1898.

6. Philippine–American War

Years: 1899–1902
Christmases Deployed: 1899, 1900, 1901

American forces saw years of guerilla combat across the archipelago.

7. World War I

Years: 1917–1918 (U.S. involvement)
Christmases Deployed: 1917, 1918

The Armistice was signed in November 1918, but the American Expeditionary Forces remained deployed during Christmas 1918 for occupation duty.

8. World War II

Years: 1941–1945 (U.S. involvement)
Christmases Deployed: 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944

From Pearl Harbor to the Ardennes, Americans fought through four Christmases.
Most famous Christmas event:

Battle of the Bulge (Dec 1944): One of the harshest winter battles in American history.

9. Korean War

Years: 1950–1953
Christmases Deployed: 1950, 1951, 1952

Even after the July 1953 armistice, U.S. forces remained in Korea, and many still spend Christmas there today as part of deterrence operations.

10. Vietnam War

Years: 1964–1973 (major U.S. involvement)
Christmases Deployed: 1964–1972

Nearly a decade of Christmases were spent in-country by U.S. personnel.
Notable: President Johnson declared a Christmas bombing halt in 1965–1966.
Exception: Operation Linebacker II resumed bombing on Dec 26, 1972.

11. Persian Gulf War

Years: 1990–1991
Christmases Deployed: 1990

Operation Desert Shield began in August 1990, leaving tens of thousands of U.S. troops in the desert during Christmas. Combat initiated in January 1991.

12. Somalia (Operation Restore Hope)

Years: 1992–1994
Christmases Deployed: 1992, 1993

U.S. personnel, including Marines and Rangers, were deployed for two Christmases.

13. Balkans (Bosnia and Kosovo Operations)

Years: 1995–2004 (various U.S. deployments)
Christmases Deployed: 1995–2003

Peacekeeping forces spent multiple Christmases deployed.

14. Afghanistan War (Operation Enduring Freedom / Resolute Support)

Years: 2001–2021
Christmases Deployed: 2001–2020

This became the longest war in American history, covering 20 Christmas seasons, including counterinsurgency, special operations, and advisory missions.

15. Iraq War (Operation Iraqi Freedom / New Dawn)

Years: 2003–2011
Christmases Deployed: 2003–2010

Large-scale combat lasted until 2007, but U.S. forces remained deployed through the end of 2011.

16. Operation Inherent Resolve (Against ISIS)

Years: 2014–present (reduced footprint but ongoing)
Christmases Deployed: 2014–present

U.S. service members remain deployed in Iraq and Syria for training, advising, intelligence, and counterterrorism operations.

17. Other Ongoing Global Deployments

Even outside declared wars, U.S. personnel routinely spend Christmas deployed due to:

Freedom of Navigation operations
Carrier strike group rotations
Deterrence missions in Europe and East Asia
Counterterrorism missions in Africa
Peacekeeping operations worldwide
U.S. forces in Korea, Japan, Germany, the Middle East, etc.

Summary Table: Every War With U.S. Troops Deployed on Christmas

War / Conflict	Years	Christmas Deployments?
Revolutionary War	1775–1783	Yes (all years)
War of 1812	1812–1815	Yes
Mexican–American War	1846–1848	Yes (1846–47)
Civil War	1861–1865	Yes
Spanish–American War	1898	Combat no, but occupation yes
Philippine–American War	1899–1902	Yes
World War I	1917–1918	Yes
World War II	1941–1945	Yes
Korean War	1950–1953	Yes
Vietnam War	1964–1973	Yes (1964–72)
Gulf War	1990–1991	Yes (1990)
Somalia	1992–1994	Yes
Balkans	1995–2004	Yes
Afghanistan	2001–2021	Yes
Iraq War	2003–2011	Yes
Operation Inherent Resolve	2014–present	Yes

Final Thoughts: Christmas in Uniform

Across more than two centuries, American troops have spent over 65 separate Christmas seasons deployed in active-war environments—and many more on global deterrence or peacekeeping missions.

From Valley Forge in 1777
…to Bastogne in 1944
…to Fallujah in 2004
…to remote Afghan outposts in the 2010s—

Christmas for deployed troops has always been about resilience, sacrifice, and quiet moments far from home.

About Challenge Coin Nation — Veteran-Founded and Trusted for Meaningful Military & Deployment Gifts

Challenge Coin Nation is a veteran-founded company built by people who understand exactly what it means to spend Christmas, birthdays, and milestone moments far from home. Every product we create is designed with the military community in mind—service members, veterans, families, and the supporters who keep them going.

Our custom challenge coins, morale items, and unique military gifts make excellent additions to Christmas care packages, deployment boxes, and unit gift exchanges. Whether someone you love is on a forward operating base, pulling holiday duty on a flightline, or deployed aboard a ship, a well-chosen challenge coin or small gift is a powerful reminder that they aren’t forgotten back home.

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If you’re searching for meaningful deployment gifts, Christmas gifts for service members, or high-quality military keepsakes from a business that truly understands the lifestyle, Challenge Coin Nation is proud to serve you. Our team continues the tradition of honoring service, strengthening morale, and helping families stay connected—one coin at a time.