Roll of Honor
Robert F. Smith
Incident
Agent Robert Smith was killed in a helicopter accident in San Elizario, Texas, while conducting a routine aerial patrol of the border area. The helicopter experienced a mechanical failure and crashed into a residential area.
Nearby citizens and Border Patrol agents immediately responded to the scene and rescued Agent Smith and a Border Patrol agent who was acting as an observer. Both agents were transported to Thomason Hospital, where Agent Smith later succumbed to his injuries.
Agent Smith was a US Navy veteran and had served in law enforcement for 16 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, parents, and three siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-81048A11- 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.
Air Interdiction Agent Smith gave the United States Department of Homeland Security 16 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
Robert F. Smith served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Air Interdiction Agent Robert F. Smith 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 Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - Air and Marine Operations, 5 of 9 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 55.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert F. Smith's cause is highlighted.
How Robert F. Smith Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Robert F. Smith is highlighted in May.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
8 officers from United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - Air and Marine Operations are honored on badge.nw.
