wounded in action
Hurt in battle
Wounded in action describes military personnel injured during combat or hostile engagement.
The phrase appears in official military records and casualty reports, often abbreviated WIA.
It distinguishes combat injuries from those sustained in training or accidents: Three soldiers were wounded in action during the patrol.
The designation may affect eligibility for certain medals and benefits.
- injuredHaving sustained harm
- combatArmed hostile engagement
- combat zoneActive military conflict area
- under fireBeing attacked or criticized
- casualtyPerson harmed in disaster
battlefield · soldier · fallen soldier · dog tags · medic · medical corps · field hospital · purple heart · veteran · shrapnel · bleeding · trauma · evacuation · stretcher · triage · fallen · hero · frontline
- war casualtiescasualties, war casualties, war dead, fallen soldiers, fallen soldier
- warfarebattle, combat, attack, war, armed conflict
- military medalsPurple Heart, Medal of Honor, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Iron Cross
wounded in actionkilled in action
Died during combat operations
unscathed · unharmed · missing in action · dead on arrival · unhurt
wounded in actionunscathed
Suffering no injury
unharmed · unhurt · intact · safe and sound · without a scratch
wound, wounds, wounding, wounded, acting, action, actions, active, actively