Roll of Honor
William Franklin Buckelew
Incident
Pilot William Buckelew and Border Patrol Inspector Donald Kee were killed when their plane crashed into the Rio Grande River three miles east of Rio Grande City, Texas, while assisting ground units in apprehending a group of illegal aliens at about 4:30 pm. The Piper Super Cub was banking to return to a field when it suddenly plunged into a river. Inspector Kee was killed on impact and Pilot Buckelew succumbed to his injuries en route to a hospital. Pilot Buckelew had served with the United States Border Patrol for 9-1/2 years and had previously served with the United States Army Field Artillery.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and is buried in the Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-EEE236C4- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 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.
Pilot Buckelew gave the United States Department of Justice 9 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
William Franklin Buckelew served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Pilot William Franklin Buckelew is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In DC, 454 of 1,419 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 32% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service - United States Border Patrol, 46 of 68 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 67.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Franklin Buckelew's cause is highlighted.
How William Franklin Buckelew Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. William Franklin Buckelew is highlighted in Jul.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
67 officers from United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service - United States Border Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
