Garvis Feild Harrell
Incident
Border Patrol Inspector Garvis Harrell suffered a fatal heart attack while pursuing an illegal alien along the Rio Grande River near Harlingen, Texas.
He was taken to a hospital in Harlingen where he passed away several hours later.
The man he was chasing was arrested.
Border Patrol Inspector Harrell was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of WWII and had only served with the United States Border Patrol for one month.
Survivors
He was survived by his parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Marine Corps. One record, 2 gates. Garvis is one person.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Border Patrol Inspector Harrell served with the United States Department of Justice.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Garvis Feild Harrell served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Cardiac
United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service - United States Border Patrol has lost 68 officers; 6 of them lost to cardiac events.
Garvis is one of 71 officers lost to cardiac events in DC, 5% of the 1,419 remembered there.
Garvis is one of 1,307 officers lost to cardiac events in the United States, 4.7% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Garvis is one of 1,309 officers lost to cardiac events worldwide, 3.8% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1944, 1 officer at United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service - United States Border Patrol was lost to cardiac events, more than in any other year.
In 1944, 1 officer in DC was lost to cardiac events, the 19th heaviest of 48 years on record. The heaviest was 1945, with 3.
In 1944, 11 officers in the United States were lost to cardiac events, the 54th heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.
In 1944, 11 officers worldwide were lost to cardiac events, the 54th heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.
Who
Garvis was 36. Of the 6 lost to cardiac events at United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service - United States Border Patrol whose age is recorded, half were between 38 and 49.5; the middle age was 44.5. Garvis had served 0.1 years; the middle length of service was 12.5 years.
Garvis was 36. Of the 69 lost to cardiac events in DC whose age is recorded, half were between 41 and 51; the middle age was 46. Garvis had served 0.1 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
Garvis was 36. Of the 1,249 lost to cardiac events in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 43 and 55; the middle age was 48. Garvis had served 0.1 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
Garvis was 36. Of the 1,251 lost to cardiac events worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 42.5 and 55; the middle age was 48. Garvis had served 0.1 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
When
April holds 16.7% of these deaths at United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service - United States Border Patrol; December holds the most, 33.3%. Mondays: 33.3%.
April holds 9.9% of these deaths in DC; May holds the most, 12.7%. Mondays: 18.3%.
April holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; January holds the most, 9.6%. Mondays: 12.9%.
April holds 8.9% of these deaths worldwide; January holds the most, 9.5%. Mondays: 13%.
How
Cardiac deaths account for 8.8% of all 68 deaths at United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service - United States Border Patrol, the 3rd most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 5% of all 1,419 deaths in DC, the 4th most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 4.7% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 4th most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 3.8% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 4th most common cause.
His people
United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service - United States Border Patrol has 68 officers remembered here, Garvis among them.
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George E. Pringle
Dec 28, 1940
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Robert James Heibler
Sep 7, 1941
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Ralph W. Ramsey
Feb 26, 1942
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Garvis Feild Harrell
Apr 24, 1944
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Earl F. Fleckiger
Jun 23, 1945
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Ned D. Henderson
Nov 18, 1945
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Anthony L. Oneto
Mar 11, 1947
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Michael T. Box
Aug 29, 1950
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Richard David Clarke
Dec 18, 1950
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Edwin H. Wheeler
Jul 6, 1952
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William Franklin Buckelew
Jul 23, 1954
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Donald Kee
Jul 23, 1954
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James Martin Kirchner
Nov 15, 1954
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James M. Carter
Jun 6, 1956
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Douglas Carter Shute
Jun 6, 1956
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John A. Rector
Oct 16, 1956
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Archie L. Jennings
Apr 16, 1960
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Kenneth Leroy Carl
Jun 18, 1961
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Richard A. Lugo
May 14, 1967
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George F. Azrak
Jun 17, 1967
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Theodore L. Newton, Jr.
Jun 17, 1967
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Elgar B. Holliday
Oct 18, 1967
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Ralph L. Anderson
Oct 25, 1968
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James G. Burns
Dec 8, 1968
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Henley M. Goode, Jr.
Oct 11, 1969
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John S. Blue
Oct 4, 1973
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Friedrich Karl
Oct 4, 1973
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Edwin Curtis Dennis
Feb 4, 1974
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Lee L. Bounds
Mar 29, 1974
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Glenn A. Phillips
Jul 8, 1974
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Oscar Trevino Torres
Nov 30, 1974
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Jose Paz Gamez, Jr.
Apr 21, 1978
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Weldon Smith
Oct 19, 1979
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Victor Contreras Ochoa
Mar 11, 1983
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Thomas Kent Byrd
Nov 21, 1983
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Manuel Salcido, Jr.
Jan 2, 1985
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Lester Lee Haynie
Jun 14, 1985
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Norman Ray Salinas
Aug 4, 1986
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John Robert McCravey
Feb 23, 1987
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Josiah Blaine Mahar
Sep 23, 1988
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David Franklin Roberson
Jul 14, 1989
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Keith Connelly
Sep 6, 1989
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John Donald Keenan
Nov 27, 1989
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Louis Deitrich Stahl
Jun 13, 1992
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Jose Angel Nava
Jan 7, 1995
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Luis A. Santiago
Mar 28, 1995
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Xavier Guadalupe Magdaleno
May 10, 1995
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Lawrence B. Pierce, Jr.
Aug 17, 1995
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Jefferson L. Barr
Jan 19, 1996
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Aurelio Esparz Valencia
Jan 26, 1996
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Michael Wayne Barnes
Dec 12, 1996
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Miguel Javier Maldonado
Mar 10, 1997
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Stephen Clay Starch
Jun 14, 1997
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Alexander Sanderlieb Kirpnick
Jun 3, 1998
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Susan Lynn Rodriguez
Jul 7, 1998
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Ricardo Guillermo Salinas
Jul 7, 1998
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Thomas J. Williams
Oct 20, 1998
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Jesus A. de la Ossa
Oct 20, 1998
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Walter Scott Panchison
Oct 23, 1998
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Rene B. Garza
Jan 20, 1999
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Stephen Michael Sullivan
Mar 27, 1999
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John Charles Gigax
Nov 7, 1999
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Daniel Miles James, Jr.
Mar 3, 2001
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Jason Christopher Panides
Apr 4, 2001
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Eloy Hernandez
Jan 16, 2002
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Roberto Javier Duran
May 6, 2002
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Catherine Mary Hill
Oct 25, 2002
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Trena Renee McLaughlin
Sep 14, 2009
Where
Military Service
Garvis Feild Harrell served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.
Visit Garvis Feild Harrell’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 14-ET
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
67 officers from United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service - United States Border Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.















