The following are events related to the Global War On Terrorism (GWOT) that took place on this day.

2001

• Two CH-53 Super Stallion helicopters from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operation Capable) were sent on a tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel (TRAP) to salvage the wreckage of a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk that had crashed in Pakistan during a raid on a Taliban compound the night before, killing two Army Rangers. The Black Hawk was abandoned on the return trip when, while refueling, the Stallions came under enemy fire. The Marines returned to the refueling site and recovered the Black Hawk on 24 October. Deployed from Camp Pendleton, California, since August, The 15th MEU (SOC) has been in the Arabian Sea and surrounding areas since September, supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
• End of Operation Rhino in Afghanistan

2004

• Charges were dropped against the former commander of Camp Whitehouse, the detention facility where an Iraqi detainee died while in Marine custody. No specific reason for the dismissal was sited. The former commander was a reservist from Pennsylvania. Charges were still pending against one Marine in connection with the same case.

2006

• End of Battle of Amarah in Iraq

2007

• Operation Kentucky in Iraq

Casualties on October 20:

• EDMUNDS, JONN JOSEPH  – October 20, 2001
• STONESIFER, KRISTOFOR TIF  – October 20, 2001
• JOHNSON, PAUL JOSEPH – October 20, 2003
• BASCOM, DOUGLAS EDWIN – October 20, 2004
• DONES, JACOB DAN – October 20, 2005
• MERCK, DENNIS PAUL – October 20, 2005
• PUMMILL, RICHARD THOMAS – October 20, 2005
• RUSSOLI, ANDREW DAVID – October 20, 2005
• SZWYDEK, STEVEN WALTER – October 20, 2005
• WITTE, KEVIN MICHAEL – October 20, 2006
• LINDENAU, ROBERT DUANE – October 20, 2008
• BAKER, DAVID RAYMOND – October 20, 2009
• JENKINS, GERALD ROBERT – October 20, 2010
• GRANT, CHRISTOPHER OBRYAN – October 20, 2013
• FINAN, JASON CHRISTOPHER – October 20, 2016