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Robert T. Williams
Incident
Special Agent Robert Williams died as the result of cancer that he developed following his assignment to the recovery efforts at the Fresh Kills landfill site following the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City.
Special Agent Williams had served in law enforcement for 23 years.
September 11, 2001 - The Years After
Special Agent Robert T. Williams was assigned to the search and recovery at the World Trade Center site after September 11, 2001. He was 38 years old that fall.
He died on July 28, 2013 - 11 years and 10 months later - of an illness contracted there. He was 49.
He is one of 600 officers honored here, and one of 7 at United States Department of Homeland Security - Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations.
The most recent of these deaths was October 24, 2025.
Officers who worked the search, rescue, and recovery at the World Trade Center site breathed contaminated air for weeks and months afterward. Many developed cancers and respiratory disease, and they have gone on dying of it ever since.
Seventy-two officers were killed on the morning itself. Hundreds more have died in the years that followed. They are honored here together, because the same attack killed them all. With some it simply took longer.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtnz5r698pvwbcd4e17g3- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- September 26, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Robert. Claim this record.
Also honored at requiem.nw. One record, 2 gates. Robert is one person.
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Tributes
You walked into it and it took years to finish the job.
Special Agent Williams gave the United States Department of Homeland Security 23 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Williams.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Illness
United States Department of Homeland Security - Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations has lost 10 officers; 8 of them lost to illness.
Robert is one of 137 officers lost to illness in DC, 9.7% of the 1,419 remembered there.
Robert is one of 2,028 officers lost to illness in the United States, 7.4% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Robert is one of 2,979 officers lost to illness worldwide, 8.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2013, 1 officer at United States Department of Homeland Security - Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations was lost to illness, the 2nd heaviest of 7 years on record. The heaviest was 2018, with 2.
In 2013, 2 officers in DC were lost to illness, the 12th heaviest of 25 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 45.
In 2013, 24 officers in the United States were lost to illness, the 14th heaviest of 108 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 564.
In 2013, 26 officers worldwide were lost to illness, the 16th heaviest of 197 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 566.
Who
Robert was 49. Of the 8 lost to illness at United States Department of Homeland Security - Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations whose age is recorded, half were between 48.5 and 65; the middle age was 59.5. Robert had served 23 years; the middle length of service was 31 years.
Robert was 49. Of the 136 lost to illness in DC whose age is recorded, half were between 45 and 56.3; the middle age was 51. Robert had served 23 years; the middle length of service was 19 years.
Robert was 49. Of the 1,996 lost to illness in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 42 and 58; the middle age was 51. Robert had served 23 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
Robert was 49. Of the 2,916 lost to illness worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 39 and 56; the middle age was 49. Robert had served 23 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
When
July holds 25% of these deaths at United States Department of Homeland Security - Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations; October holds the most, 37.5%. Sundays: 37.5%.
July holds 9.5% of these deaths in DC; October holds the most, 13.9%. Sundays: 12.4%.
July holds 7% of these deaths in the United States; October holds the most, 14.9%. Sundays: 14.2%.
July holds 7.3% of these deaths worldwide; October holds the most, 12.6%. Sundays: 13.2%.
How
Illness deaths account for 80% of all 10 deaths at United States Department of Homeland Security - Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was aircraft; passenger jet, in 87.5% of these deaths.
Illness deaths account for 9.7% of all 1,419 deaths in DC, the 3rd most common cause. The weapon recorded was aircraft; passenger jet, in 23.4% of these deaths.
Illness deaths account for 7.4% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 3rd most common cause. The weapon recorded was aircraft; passenger jet, in 29.5% of these deaths.
Illness deaths account for 8.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 3rd most common cause. The weapon recorded was aircraft; passenger jet, in 20.1% of these deaths.
His people
United States Department of Homeland Security - Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations has 10 officers remembered here, Robert among them.
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Jaime Jorge Zapata
Feb 15, 2011
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Edward Joseph Smith
Oct 15, 2012
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Robert T. Williams
Jul 28, 2013
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J. Scott McGuire
Jan 24, 2016
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Thomas Michael Wischerth
Mar 26, 2017
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Timothy Allan Ensley
Jun 24, 2018
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Dennis Patrick McCarthy
Oct 27, 2018
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Louis Henry Aguirre
Nov 27, 2020
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Robert C. Castioni, Jr.
Jul 24, 2023
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Joseph Love
Oct 19, 2024
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 56-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial — requiem.nw →
Others Who Wore This Badge
9 officers from United States Department of Homeland Security - Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations are honored on badge.nw.
