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William Honkala
Incident
Investigator William Honkala succumbed to injuries sustained in a vehicle crash two days earlier on Route 17 in Waverly, New York, while traveling there from Binghamton to conduct an investigation. He was attempting to pass a slow-moving vehicle when the vehicle suddenly pulled in front of him. As he attempted to pull back into his lane he struck a culvert and then a large tree. He was transported to the local hospital where he died two days later. Investigator Honkala was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of WWI and WWII.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, daughter, and mother.
In Our Keeping
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- 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. William 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.
Investigator Honkala served with the United States Department of the Treasury.
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
William Honkala served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Accident
United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Alcohol Tax Unit has lost 30 officers; 11 of them lost to accidents.
William is one of 453 officers lost to accidents in DC, 31.9% of the 1,419 remembered there.
William is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.
William is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1948, 1 officer at United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Alcohol Tax Unit was lost to accidents, the 3rd heaviest of 8 years on record. The heaviest was 1937, with 3.
In 1948, 3 officers in DC were lost to accidents, the 57th heaviest of 125 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 14.
In 1948, 74 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 36th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1948, 81 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 54th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
William was 47. Of the 10 lost to accidents at United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Alcohol Tax Unit whose age is recorded, half were between 46 and 53; the middle age was 48.
William was 47. Of the 425 lost to accidents in DC whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
William was 47. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36.
William was 47. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36.
When
March holds 9.1% of these deaths at United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Alcohol Tax Unit; January holds the most, 45.5%. Sundays: 18.2%.
March holds 10.2% of these deaths in DC; July holds the most, 10.6%. Sundays: 13%.
March holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 14%.
March holds 7.4% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Sundays: 14%.
How
Accident deaths account for 36.7% of all 30 deaths at United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Alcohol Tax Unit, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 31.9% of all 1,419 deaths in DC, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Alcohol Tax Unit has 30 officers remembered here, William among them.
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William Roy Blandford
May 12, 1934
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Robert C. Nickerson Apr 11, 1935
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William Rowland Braden Jul 22, 1935
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William Louis Pappan
Dec 4, 1935
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John Ruskin Foster
May 14, 1936
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Donald C. Cleveland Nov 22, 1936
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William Thomas Butler Jan 7, 1937
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Wilford Winn Thomasson
Feb 14, 1937
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William James Tennis Sep 28, 1937
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William Edward Smith Dec 25, 1937
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William Joseph Jackson, Jr.
Mar 8, 1938
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William Franklin Berry
Mar 18, 1938
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James Logan Molloy
Jan 31, 1939
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Benjamin Richard Smallwood Jul 14, 1939
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Norval Lee DeArmond Jan 1, 1940
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Elvis Wesley Myrick Apr 3, 1940
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Samuel Leeper Jul 31, 1940
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Walter C. Guinn Jan 28, 1941
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Robert Richard Evans Apr 19, 1941
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Roy Neil Griffin
Aug 18, 1941
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Frederick Lewis Regan Sep 28, 1941
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William Milton Pugh
Nov 21, 1941
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Randall Oakes Younger
Jun 1, 1943
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Melvin John Clark Jun 17, 1947
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Jesse Wilburn Jones
Mar 3, 1948
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William Honkala Mar 7, 1948
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Milton Henry Rogers
Jul 12, 1948
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Merimon Hampton Barnes Apr 24, 1949
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Earl Raymond Harrouff Jan 12, 1950
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Oliver Holmes Cornelius
Feb 20, 1950
Where
Military Service
William Honkala served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.
Visit William Honkala’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 59-E
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
29 officers from United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Alcohol Tax Unit are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
