End of Watch October 25, 1968
Age 45
Tour of Duty 18 yrs
The Vigil Panel 104 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Border Patrol Inspector Ralph Anderson was accidentally shot and killed when his rifle discharged while on patrol in a rugged area two miles east of San Ysidro, California. The rifle, which was not secured inside the cab of his patrol vehicle, struck another item in the vehicle. The trigger was pulled back and the rifle discharged and struck Inspector Anderson in the head. Inspector Anderson had served with the United States Border Patrol for 18 years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtmknr4w459ehn11d74gv
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Ralph. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Border Patrol Inspector Anderson gave the United States Department of Justice 18 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Border Patrol Inspector Anderson.

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

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdjinsusbpfed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 25, 1968
Tour of Duty 18 yrs
Age 45
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Ralph is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1968, 100 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 6th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Ralph was 45. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Ralph had served 18 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

October holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Fridays: 15.1%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service - United States Border Patrol has 68 officers remembered here, Ralph among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Border Patrol Inspector Ralph L. Anderson

United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service - United States Border Patrol · End of Watch October 25, 1968

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 9-W

↑