Roll of Honor
Ira Trueman Hill
Incident
Location: Texas Incident Date: Thursday, May 8, 1919 Weapon: Gun; Unknown type Offender: Shot and killed
Quarantine Guard Ira Hill and Mounted Guard Charles Hopkins, of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, were shot and killed while patrolling the shoreline of the Rio Grand River with other mounted guards and health officers from the United States Public Health Service about seven miles northeast of Laredo, Texas.
The federal officers witnessed four Mexicans in a boat land on the American side of the border near where the officers were hiding in the chaparral brush. The other officers were about 15 feet away. When one of the officers called upon the men to halt, the suspects opened fire with rifles and revolvers. Mounted Guard Hopkins was hit with a bullet in the right side, exiting the left side of his back. Another officer shot the suspect who had mortally wounded Hopkins.
The other officers were involved in a gun battle with two suspects still, and fatally shot both. The fourth suspect was shot and killed while firing on officers from the water.
Quarantine Guard Hill died from his wounds on June 1st, 1919. He was survived by his wife. He was buried in the Laredo City Cemetery.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-FED-AAEA5356- Stewardship
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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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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Quarantine Guard Hill served with the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Quarantine Guard Hill.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Quarantine Guard Ira Trueman Hill 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 MD, 195 of 377 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 51.7% of this state's fallen. That is 51.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ira Trueman Hill's cause is highlighted.
How Ira Trueman Hill Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ira Trueman Hill is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ira Trueman Hill was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from United States Department of Health and Human Services - Public Health Service are honored on badge.nw.