Download the DCAS casualty dataset

Downloads and caches the Defense Casualty Analysis System (DCAS) Vietnam Conflict Extract Data File, recording U.S. military personnel killed in the Vietnam War (records span 1956 to 2006).

Usage

get_dcas(cache = TRUE, force = FALSE)

Format

A data frame with 58,220 rows and 55 variables. Key variables include:

member_name

Name of the service member.

member_service_code

Service branch code.

member_service_name

Service branch.

member_rank_or_rate

Rank or rate.

person_type_name

Personnel category.

member_component_code

Service component code.

Source

U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), College Park, MD. Defense Casualty Analysis System (DCAS) Vietnam Conflict Extract Data File. See Smith (2025) and its Online Appendix for full archival accession details.

Arguments

cache

Logical. If TRUE (default), the downloaded file is saved locally and reused on subsequent calls without re-downloading.

force

Logical. If TRUE, re-downloads the file even if a cached copy already exists. Default is FALSE.

Value

A data frame with 58,220 rows and 55 variables.

Details

Each row is an individual service member casualty record.

References

Smith, Gregory L. (2025). "Beyond body counts: Vietnam war ground combat data." Conflict Management and Peace Science. doi:10.1177/07388942251391081

Examples

if (FALSE) { # \dontrun{
  dcas <- get_dcas()
  head(dcas)
} # }