Roll of Honor
Don Cleo Ware
Incident
Location: Overseas Incident Date: Monday, June 9, 1975 Weapon: Rifle; M-16 Offender: Never apprehended
Special Agent Don Ware died in 2004 from complications of gunshot wounds suffered in Mexico on June 9, 1975.
He and another agent were working an undercover operation in San Luis, Mexico when they were kidnapped and beaten by several suspects.
The assailants had taken the agents' guns, but did not find one of the guns that Agent Ware was carrying. Agent Ware was able to access his concealed weapon, allowing the two agents to escape. The suspects opened fire with M-16 rifles, during which time Agent Ware was shot twice.
The main suspect was arrested sometime after the incident and served time for shooting a Mexican federal agent, but no one was ever charged in connection with shooting Agent Ware or the other agent.
Agent Ware suffered critical injuries and remained in intensive care for four months, during which time he underwent multiple blood transfusions. He contracted hepatitis during one of the transfusions. He also lost a kidney, 60% of his liver, his gallbladder and part of his intestines.
Special Agent Ware went back to his position at the DEA a year later. As a result of contracting hepatitis, later in his life he suffered cirrhosis of the liver. By undergoing Interferon therapy he was able to rid his body of hepatitis, but significant damage remained. Because of the gunshot injuries he underwent many surgeries over the years before medically retiring in 1997. The last of these surgeries resulted in his death October 12, 2004.
Agent Ware served with the DEA for 25 years. He was preceded in death by his third daughter, and survived by his wife and three daughters.
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
25 years. You could have gone home.
Special Agent Ware gave the United States Department of Justice 25 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Ware.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Agent Don Cleo Ware is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In TX, 1,461 of 2,422 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At United States Department of Justice - Drug Enforcement Administration, 18 of 38 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Don Cleo Ware's cause is highlighted.
How Don Cleo Ware Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Don Cleo Ware is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Don Cleo Ware was killed by rifle; m-16.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
37 officers from United States Department of Justice - Drug Enforcement Administration are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
