Daily AncestorKilled in action
Killed in action (KIA) means a soldier was killed by enemy action in combat; a man who survived the fight and died later of his wounds is listed as died of wounds.
Military casualty lists separate deaths by cause. Killed in action covers men killed outright by hostile action. Died of wounds covers men who died later of wounds received in action; modern U.S. rules, which abbreviate it D.O.W., count a man who reached a medical facility before dying. Men missing in action who were never found may later be presumed killed.
The exact phrase on the record tells you where to look next: hospital records for a man who died of wounds, unit and battle records for one killed in action.
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Killed in action." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/military/killed-in-action. Last checked 2026-10-03.