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William A. Miller
Incident
Correctional Officer William Miller and Correctional Officer Harold Stites were shot and killed during an attempted prison escape at Alcatraz Prison in California. Several inmates were able to gain control of the prison's arsenal and took nine guards hostage, locking them in two separate cells. The prisoners demanded the prison keys, which were all turned over except for the one that allowed access to the outside. The guards were able to conceal that key in a toilet. When the prisoners realized they were unable to escape, they began firing into the cells, wounding all of the officers. An assault team of other officers and United States Marines stormed the facility. During the ensuing battle, Officer Stites, a member of the rescue team, and six other officers were wounded. Officer Miller was among the original nine hostages. He was repeatedly beaten as the prisoners requested the keys to exit the prison. He is credited with hiding the key and preventing the inmates from escaping. Officer Miller succumbed to his gunshot wounds the next day in the Marine Hospital. In all, 14 officers were wounded, and two were killed. Two of the inmates were also killed. Two others were later executed for the murders, and one other was sentenced to 99 years. One of the two executed was serving time for the murder of Detective Lemuel Savage of the Amarillo Police Department, Texas. The suspect was convicted of a federal kidnapping charge related to Detective Savage's murder and was sent to Alcatraz Prison to serve the time. Officer Miller had served with the United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons for five years and one year at Alcatraz Prison.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two children, and mother.
In Our Keeping
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- 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.
Correctional Officer Miller gave the United States Department of Justice 5 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Correctional Officer Miller.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons has lost 34 officers; 26 of them killed feloniously.
William is one of 754 officers killed feloniously in DC, 53.1% of the 1,419 remembered there.
William is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
William is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1946, 2 officers at United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons were killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 21 years on record. The heaviest was 1983, with 3.
In 1946, 6 officers in DC were killed feloniously, the 37th heaviest of 159 years on record. The heaviest was 1922, with 20.
In 1946, 91 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 62nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1946, 93 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 67th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
William was 43. Of the 23 killed feloniously at United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons whose age is recorded, half were between 30.5 and 48; the middle age was 40. William had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
William was 43. Of the 580 killed feloniously in DC whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 44; the middle age was 36. William had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
William was 43. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. William had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
William was 43. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. William had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
May holds 11.5% of these deaths at United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons; October holds the most, 15.4%. Fridays: 11.5%.
May holds 7.6% of these deaths in DC; July holds the most, 11.7%. Fridays: 16.2%.
May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.
May holds 8.5% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Fridays: 14.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 76.5% of all 34 deaths at United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 7.7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53.1% of all 1,419 deaths in DC, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 35% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 20.4% of these deaths.
His people
United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons has 34 officers remembered here, William among them.
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Joseph B. Waldrupe
Nov 16, 1901
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Andrew F. Turner
Mar 26, 1916
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Edgar A. Barr Mar 19, 1917
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James R. Brock
Dec 27, 1917
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Andrew H. Leonard
Nov 14, 1922
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Robert George Warnke
Jun 20, 1929
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Royal C. Cline
May 23, 1938
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Harold P. Stites
May 2, 1946
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William A. Miller
May 3, 1946
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William W. Latimer Oct 15, 1960
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Vern M. Jarvis
Jan 26, 1969
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Wayne Lewis Selle
Jul 31, 1973
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John W. Johnson
Sep 29, 1974
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Donald Fredrick Reis
Feb 28, 1975
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Gregory J. Gunter
Dec 25, 1982
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Gary Lee Rowe
Feb 7, 1983
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Merle Eugene Clutts
Oct 22, 1983
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Robert L. Hoffmann, Sr.
Oct 22, 1983
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Boyd H. Spikerman
Jan 29, 1984
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Robert F. Miller
Oct 12, 1987
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Daniel Januarius Bryer
Mar 29, 1991
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D'Antonio Andrew Washington
Dec 22, 1994
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Alfredo Deon Williams
Jul 30, 1996
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Scott James Williams
Apr 3, 1997
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Jose Rivera
Jun 20, 2008
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Christopher Quinn Cooper
Apr 7, 2011
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Eric Williams
Feb 25, 2013
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Osvaldo Albarati
Feb 26, 2013
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Brandon Elliot Kountz
Mar 31, 2013
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Michael Clifton Baskett
Nov 26, 2013
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Brian J. Feldt
Dec 23, 2013
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Justin Dean Joslyn
Sep 11, 2021
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Marc Alan Fischer
Aug 9, 2024
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Louis Pepe
Nov 24, 2024
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 26-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
33 officers from United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
