No Stupid Questions

I'm a US army infantry, I don't have a great overall picture of geopolitics, but I'm generally a pretty anti-war kind of guy. My personal take is that while we've mixed ourselves up in a lot of deplorable wars, we also get utilized a LOT to prevent large threats from brewing in the first place. I just spent the last year on a NATO peacekeeping mission, and my job was 100% "be visible so Russian backed actors can't operate openly"

So no, we haven't fought wars that directly expelled hostile armies from our territory. But we do project a strong presence in dark corners that further the goals of stability for the US and Western Europe. By the way, NATO is mostly the US armed forces, other countries supply token, under equipped forces. That's changing recently due to Russia's aggression, but most of Western Europe was completely dependent on US NATO forces to maintain peace.

To answer your question, in my opinion, probably none. We’ve definitely been involved in conflicts that have furthered or protected America’s interests, which in theory as citizens, we benefited from.

I would think that veterans and current service members deserve respect/gratitude for acting as a deterrent against external hostile entities that otherwise might be interested in ruining your day to day existence. They do jobs that I personally don’t want to do and I’m thankful they’re there and willing to do it. Have a safe and happy Independence Day!

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It ultimately depends on whether you're looking from the perspectives of those during that time, or from a modern perspective with the benefit of hindsight and better objectivity.

The key it all kinda hinges around is that they did not know the communist project of the USSR was going to eventually implode in pretty much every place it was attempted. Had they known that, it is likely we would have been in fewer wars.

Ultimately though, it is difficult to legitimately argue that the US, with its gargantuan economy, first-rate military, nuclear arsenal, boundless soft power exports and two oceans to defend it, has ever been legitimately threatened with potential defeat since WW2. And even including WW2 is ultimately debatable, simply due to oceans being an extremely effective defense from invasion.

I'm jaded and cynical in my years. I feel all wars boil down to money and control. The USA has historically been more about civil liberty and human rights than other countries, but more often those ideas are used to smokescreen a more covert motivation. To answer the OP's question it would be none.

Maybe the war on crime?

Or could it be the war on poverty?

No I think it's the war on drugs.

No now I have it for sure, the war on terror! Yes that's the one.

War on obesity?

But the war they REALLY need to win, is the war on idiocy, but I'm afraid it's a lost cause too.

America's freedom from high oil prices? I can think of a few.

People don’t tend to attack the US directly since they know it will turn out badly for them. Without the military, that isn’t a thing. Many don’t think twice before rolling over a country unless that country is strong or has strong friends.