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Walter Richard Ton
Incident
Postal Inspector Walter Ton was killed in the crash of Northwest Airlines Flight 2 near Bozeman, Montana, while returning to St. Paul, Minnesota, from Seattle, Washington.
He had traveled to Seattle to arrest two suspects in the burglary of a post office in Voltaire, North Dakota, on September 24th, 1931. Ten people were killed in the crash when the plane struck a mountain peak in the Bridger Mountain range.
Inspector Ton had served as a US Postal Inspector for almost 10 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, 7-month-old daughter, sister, and two brothers.
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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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Postal Inspector Ton gave the United States Postal Inspection Service 9 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Postal Inspector Ton.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
United States Postal Inspection Service has lost 14 officers; 8 of them lost to accidents.
Walter is one of 203 officers lost to accidents in VA, 31.1% of the 653 remembered there.
Walter is one of 8,274 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,543 remembered there.
Walter is one of 10,099 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,910 remembered here.
33,910 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1938, 1 officer at United States Postal Inspection Service was lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1938, 2 officers in VA were lost to accidents, the 32nd heaviest of 99 years on record. The heaviest was 1870, with 10.
In 1938, 89 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 15th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1938, 100 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 21st heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Walter was 44. Of the 8 lost to accidents at United States Postal Inspection Service whose age is recorded, half were between 42.8 and 50; the middle age was 45. Walter had served 9.6 years; the middle length of service was 11.3 years.
Walter was 44. Of the 192 lost to accidents in VA whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 45; the middle age was 36. Walter had served 9.6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Walter was 44. Of the 7,715 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Walter had served 9.6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Walter was 44. Of the 9,448 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Walter had served 9.6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
January holds 12.5% of these deaths at United States Postal Inspection Service; February holds the most, 25%. Mondays: 25%.
January holds 7.4% of these deaths in VA; December holds the most, 12.8%. Mondays: 10.8%.
January holds 7.7% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Mondays: 13.4%.
January holds 8.1% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Mondays: 13.5%.
How
Accident deaths account for 57.1% of all 14 deaths at United States Postal Inspection Service, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 31.1% of all 653 deaths in VA, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,543 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.8% of all 33,910 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
United States Postal Inspection Service has 14 officers remembered here, Walter among them.
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Charles M. Davis
Jun 5, 1867
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Charles Fitzgerald Sep 23, 1908
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Elbert Perry Lamberth
Aug 16, 1917
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George Washington Daniel
Sep 1, 1919
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Levi C. Chance Feb 14, 1923
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Walter Richard Ton
Jan 10, 1938
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Finton T. McMahon
Aug 1, 1939
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Ernest M. Harkins
Jan 12, 1949
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Bruce Orrin Shaffer Aug 31, 1951
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John P. McAuliffe
Mar 14, 1960
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Benedetto M. Spizzirri
Mar 14, 1960
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Terrance M. Asbury
Feb 3, 1990
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Robert Francis Jones, Jr.
Jul 14, 2000
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Preston Boyd Parnell
Jul 26, 2012
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 20-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
13 officers from United States Postal Inspection Service are honored on badge.nw.
