Hero
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Wall of Honor
Every month DEA remembers those who made the ultimate sacrifice for drug law enforcement and the nation. Browse anniversaries below or search the complete list of fallen heroes.
Content

Emir Benitez
Special Agent
Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Emir Benitez died August 9, 1973, at Broward County General Hospital from a gunshot wound he received during an undercover cocaine investigation in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He was 28 years of age at the time of his death. Read more >

Nickolas Fragos
Special Agent
Prior to joining DEA in March 1974, Special Agent Nickolas Fragos was a highly decorated Vietnam War veteran. He was awarded a Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, a Purple Heart, and two Army commendation medals for his service as a medic. After serving his country in Vietnam, Special Agent Fragos returned to the Detroit, Michigan area, where he earned bachelor’s degrees in political science and psychology at Wayne State University. He also served as a medical assistant with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office. Read more >

Mary M. Keehan
Secretary
Mary M. Keehan, Secretary to the Acting Regional Director of the Drug Enforcement Administration's Miami Regional Office, died on August 5, 1974, as a result of the collapse of the Miami Regional Office building. She was 27 years of age at the time of her death. Read more >

Charles H. Mann
Special Agent
Special Agent Charles H. Mann died on August 5, 1974, as a result of the collapse of the DEA Miami Regional Office building. He was 31 years of age at the time of his death. Read more >

Anna Y. Mounger
Secretary
Anna Y. Mounger, a secretary at DEA's Miami Regional Office, died on August 5, 1974, as a result of the collapse of that building. She was 24 years of age at the time of her death. Read more >

Anna J. Pope
Fiscal Assistant
Anna J. Pope, a fiscal assistant at the Drug Enforcement Administration's Miami Regional Office, died on August 5, 1974, as a result of the collapse of the office building. She was 54 years of age at the time of her death. Read more >

Martha D. Skeels
Supervisory Clerk-Typist
Martha D. Skeels, a supervisory clerk-typist at the Drug Enforcement Administration's Miami Regional Office, died on August 5, 1974, as a result of the collapse of the office building. She was 50 years of age at the time of her death. Read more >

Mary P. Sullivan
Clerk-Typist
Mary P. Sullivan, a clerk-typist at DEA's Miami Regional Office, died on August 5, 1974, as a result of the collapse of the office building. She was 56 years of age at the time of her death. Read more >

Susan M. Hoefler
Office Assistant
Susan M. Hoefler, an office assistant at the Drug Enforcement Administration's Guadalajara, Mexico Resident Office, died on August 16, 1986, from injuries suffered in an automobile accident. She was 32 years of age at the time of her death. Read more >

Arthur L. Cash
Special Agent
Special Agent Arthur L. Cash graduated from West Virginia University in 1969 with a bachelor’s degree. After graduating from college, Special Agent Cash served as a border patrol agent with the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. Agent Cash joined DEA in 1974 and was transferred to the San Luis, Arizona District Office and then to the Miami Field Division. In March 1987 he was assigned to open the Sierra Vista, Arizona Post of Duty. Read more >

Alan H. Winn
Special Agent
Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Pilot Alan H. Winn, 37, was killed August 13, 1991, in a helicopter crash during an operations flight over Hawaii. Read more >

Frank Fernandez Jr.
Special Agent
Frank Fernandez, Jr., was one of five Drug Enforcement Administration special agents killed on August 27, 1994, in a plane crash during a reconnaissance mission near Santa Lucia, Peru. The mission was part of Operation Snowcap, a cocaine interdiction program in South America. He was 38 years of age at the time of his death. Read more >

Jay W. Seale
Special Agent
Jay W. Seale was one of five Drug Enforcement Administration special agents killed August 27, 1994, in a plane crash during a reconnaissance mission near Santa Lucia, Peru. The mission was part of Operation Snowcap, a cocaine interdiction program in South America. He was 31 years of age at the time of his death. Read more >

Meredith Thompson
Special Agent
Meredith Thompson was one of five Drug Enforcement Administration special agents killed August 27, 1994, in a plane crash during a reconnaissance mission near Santa Lucia, Peru. The mission was part of Operation Snowcap, a cocaine interdiction program in South America. She was 33 years of age at the time of her death. Read more >

Juan C. Vars
Special Agent
Juan C. Vars was one of five Drug Enforcement Administration special agents killed August 27, 1994, in a plane crash during a reconnaissance mission near Santa Lucia, Peru. The mission was part of Operation Snowcap, a cocaine interdiction program in South America. He was 32 years of age at the time of his death. Read more >

Frank S. Wallace Jr.
Special Agent
Frank S. Wallace, Jr., was one of five Drug Enforcement Administration special agents killed August 27, 1994, in a plane crash during a reconnaissance mission near Santa Lucia, Peru. The mission was part of Operation Snowcap, a cocaine interdiction program in South America. He was 37 years of age at the time of his death. Read more >

Royce D. Tramel
Special Agent
On August 28, 2000, Special Agent Royce D. “Doug” Tramel was struck and killed by a vehicle. He was 36 years of age at the time of his death. Read more >

Thomas J. Byrne
Special Agent
On August 28, 2008, while attending the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, Special Agent Thomas J. Byrne was severely beaten and mugged while walking to his hotel. After multiple surgeries, he succumbed to his injuries on August 30, 2008. Read more >

Brent L. Hanger
Detective
On August 6, 2015, Washington State Patrol Detective and Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force Officer Brent L. Hanger was participating in a joint WSP and DEA marijuana eradication effort on public lands outside of Yakima, Washington. This operation was conducted as part of the Seattle, Washington Field Division’s Domestic Cannabis Eradication and Suppression Program. TFO Hanger was hiking with other members of the Reconnaissance and Arrest Team following a tip about a suspected large-scale outdoor grow operation when he suffered chest pains, which required immediate medical attention. Attempts by on-scene medical personnel to revive TFO Hanger proved unsuccessful, and he was pronounced dead on the scene. Read more >
Visit the New DEA Wall of Honor
The Wall of Honor is a central, yet serene, place of reflection located in the DEA Museum's lobby. Since 1995, the agency has prominently displayed portraits of the men and women of DEA and its predecessor agencies who lost their lives while on duty. DEA continues to honor their sacrifices with a redesigned space featuring newly commissioned portraits, a dignified brass display area, respectful 24-hour illumination, and an interactive kiosk that shares the stories of each hero.
Click here to view the complete Wall of Honor list.