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Customs Agent

John Henry Sellenthin

United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service — Washington, DC
Veteran → Accident
United States flag District of Columbia flag
End of Watch September 2, 1961
Age 42
The Vigil Panel 212 · Column 4 · Line 8 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Memorials 1 Also Remembered Department 93

Incident

Customs Agent John Sellenthin died after suffering second and third degree burns at the United States Customs House at 201 Varrak Street in Manhattan, New York, on August 30th, 1961. He was in the process of burning films that had been seized by the Customs Service when a fire started. He was taken to St. Vincent's Hospital where he died on September 2nd, 1961. Agent Sellenthin was a U.S. Army veteran of WWII.

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. John 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.
Customs Agent Sellenthin 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

Department United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service
Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdtuscsfed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 2, 1961
Age 42
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Military Service

John Henry Sellenthin served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Accident

John is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  3. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1961, 67 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 59th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 42. 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.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

September holds 9.2% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 14.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service has 94 officers remembered here, John among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Customs Agent John Henry Sellenthin

United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service · End of Watch September 2, 1961

Military Service

John Henry Sellenthin served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.

Visit John Henry Sellenthin’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 5-W

Also Remembered

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