Native Americans are only 0.8 percent of the U.S. population but they make up 1.6 percent of the military's ranks.
According to McClatchy-Tribune News, that means there are nearly 22,000 American Indians and Alaska Natives in uniform. Of those, more than 18,000 have served in Iraq or Afghanistan, with about 3,800 currently deployed to those countries.
The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have taken their toll on Indian Country. In the last six years, more than 300 Native soldiers have been wounded in battle and 46 have died.
Native Americans have fought in every major war since the American Revolution.
Get the Story:American Indians proud of their service in military (McClatchy-Tribune News 9/22)
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