Killed in action

Militaries use the term killed in action (KIA) as a casualty classification. They use it to describe the deaths of their own forces by other hostile forces or by fratricide. The United States Department of Defense (DOD) says the KIA need not have fired his weapon but has received hostile attack. KIA do not come from accidents, such as accidental vehicle crashes or other "non-hostile" means.

The DOD also defines KIA as someone who "is killed outright or who dies as a result of wounds or other injuries before reaching a medical treatment facility." Someone KIA died on the battlefield whereas someone who died of [battle] wounds (DOW) survived to reach a medical treatment facility. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) also uses DWRIA rather than DOW for died of wounds received in action. However, historically militaries and historians have used the latter acronym. (See further information below.)

Military Awards

As do wounded in action (WIA), KIA and DOW casualties receive the Purple Heart, a high military honor, or the first or another Oak Leaf Cluster on it if they have already received the award.