Walter W. Getchell

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service — Washington, DC

Cardiac

End of Watch August 5, 1924

Age 57

The Vigil Panel 47 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 312

Incident

Deputy Marshal Walter Getchell suffered a fatal heart attack after getting lost in the wilderness near Nome, Alaska. He had left his office to serve a notice of judgment against a dredging company in Nome.

Deputy Getchell never arrived at the company and failed to returned to the office. A search party was sent out but failed to locate him. His body was found five days later on a different trail. It is believed he took a wrong turn and lost his way.

DUSM Getchell, On today, the 100th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for our Country.

BPA Mike Casey United States Border Patrol(Retired) August 5th, 2024

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-FED-4A4F8AAE
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Getchell served with the United States Department of Justice.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy U.S. Marshal Getchell.

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

Agency

Department United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service

Location Washington, DC

Platform Identity usms.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 5, 1924

Age 57

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac

Deputy U.S. Marshal Walter W. Getchell is one of 1,306 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 4% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In DC, 71 of 1,419 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 5% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points above the national rate of 4%.

At United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service, 4 of 313 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 1.3% of this agency's fallen.

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service

of 313 officers

1.3% Cardiac

DC — Statewide

of 1,419 officers

5% Cardiac

Nationwide

1,306

of 32,508 officers

4% Cardiac