William Lee McMillion

West Virginia State Police — South Charleston, WV

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch June 28, 1921

Age 26

The Vigil Panel 41 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 41

Incident

Private William McMillion was shot and killed near Matewan, Mingo County, West Virginia while assisting at the scene of a violent miner's strike. Private Ernest Ripley and Private Charles Kackley were also killed during a two-year battle with striking coal miners, known as the Second Mine War, in which over 50 people were killed. The strike was finally put down with the help of the United States Army. Private McMillion and another trooper were escorting a prisoner from Lynn to Matewan when they were ambushed. He was shot in the back and killed instantly. Private McMillion was a United States Army WWI veteran. He is buried at Bell Cemetery in Giboa, Nicholas County, West Virginia.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-WV-CFBFE934
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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 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.
Private McMillion served with the West Virginia State Police.
Thank you for your service to the people of West Virginia, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department West Virginia State Police

Type State Police

Location South Charleston, WV

Platform Identity wvsp.wv.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 28, 1921

Age 26

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle

Military Service

William Lee McMillion served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Private William Lee McMillion 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 97,759 officers honored here.

In WV, 169 of 232 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.8% of this state's fallen. That is 72.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At West Virginia State Police, 21 of 42 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

West Virginia State Police

of 42 officers

50% Felonious

WV — Statewide

169

of 232 officers

72.8% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious