GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR
(2001–2021)
ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, NINETEEN TERRORISTS ASSOCIATED WITH AL-QAEDA HIJACKED FOUR COMMERCIAL AIRLINERS, CARRYING OUT ATTACKS AGAINST THE UNITED STATES (U.S.) THAT CLAIMED NEARLY 3,000 LIVES. IN RESPONSE, THE U.S.
LAUNCHED WHAT BECAME KNOWN AS THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR (GWOT), BEGINNING MILITARY OPERATIONS IN AFGHANISTAN TO DISMANTLE AL-QAEDA AND REMOVE THE TALIBAN GOVERNMENT THAT HAD PROVIDED IT SANCTUARY.
AS MILITARY OPERATIONS EXPANDED, AMERICAN AND ALLIED FORCES CONDUCTED MISSIONS ACROSS MULTIPLE REGIONS TO COMBAT TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS. IN 2003, THE U.S. INV ADED IRAQ, LEADING TO THE REMOVAL OF IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN’S REGIME. U.S. SERVICE MEMBERS FOUGHT PROLONGED COUNTERINSURGENCY CAMPAIGNS IN
AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ WHILE SUPPORTING ALLIED GOVERNMENTS, TRAINING LOCAL SECURITY FORCES, AND CONDUCTING HUMANITARIAN AND RECONSTRUCTION EFFORTS.
OVER THE NEXT TWO DECADES, MILLIONS OF AMERICANS SERVED IN SUPPORT OF THE GWOT. IN 2011, U.S. FORCES LOCATED AND KILLED AL-QAEDA LEADER OSAMA BIN LADEN. IN 2021, FOLLOWING THE WITHDRAWAL OF U.S. AND COALITION FORCES FROM AFGHANISTAN, THE GWOT CAME TO AN END. MORE THAN 7,000 AMERICAN SERVICE MEMBERS GAVE THEIR LIVES, AND MORE THAN 53,000 WERE WOUNDED IN ACTION.
DONATED BY ROBERT AND KAY SLOCUM
DEDICATED TO ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE OUR COUNTRY