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John Ruskin Foster
Incident
Investigator John Foster was shot and killed as he and another agent were chasing a vehicle near St. John, Indiana. While parked near a filling station, on U.S. 30 in Dyer at about 1:00 am, the agents saw a vehicle with two suspected bootleggers and gave chase. As they turned south on U.S. 41, their speeds reached over 75 mph until the vehicle turned eastbound onto a dirt road, heading toward Crown Point. When the vehicle rounded a curve, one of the suspects opened fire with four shots from a high-powered rifle. Investigator Foster was struck twice in the leg and once in the heart, killing him instantly. The suspects were able to flee the scene, but the driver was captured by police in Chicago Heights, Illinois, three hours later. During questioning, he confessed they were carrying 200 gallons of untaxed alcohol from Chicago to Indianapolis and implicated the other suspect as the shooter. That suspect was captured on May 27 in a rooming house in Indianapolis. Both suspects pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and on June 26, 1936, were sentenced to life in a federal penitentiary. Investigator Foster had served with the Alcohol Tax Unit for over one year.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife of one year and his father.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
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- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
You barely got started.
Investigator Foster gave the United States Department of the Treasury 1 year.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Investigator Foster.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Alcohol Tax Unit has lost 30 officers; 12 of them killed feloniously.
John is one of 754 officers killed feloniously in DC, 53.1% of the 1,419 remembered there.
John is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
John 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 1936, 1 officer at United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Alcohol Tax Unit was killed feloniously, the 5th heaviest of 7 years on record. The heaviest was 1941, with 3.
In 1936, 2 officers in DC were killed feloniously, the 99th heaviest of 159 years on record. The heaviest was 1922, with 20.
In 1936, 136 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 31st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1936, 136 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 38th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
John was 35. Of the 10 killed feloniously at United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Alcohol Tax Unit whose age is recorded, half were between 37.3 and 49.8; the middle age was 42.5. John had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 7 years.
John was 35. Of the 580 killed feloniously in DC whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 44; the middle age was 36. John had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 5 years.
John was 35. 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. John had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.
John was 35. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. John had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
May holds 8.3% of these deaths at United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Alcohol Tax Unit; March holds the most, 16.7%. Thursdays: 8.3%.
May holds 7.6% of these deaths in DC; July holds the most, 11.7%. Thursdays: 13.7%.
May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
May holds 8.5% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Thursdays: 14.1%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 40% of all 30 deaths at United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Alcohol Tax Unit, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 8.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53.1% of all 1,419 deaths in DC, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 10.5% 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 rifle, in 5.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 5.3% of these deaths.
His people
United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Alcohol Tax Unit has 30 officers remembered here, John among them.
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William Roy Blandford
May 12, 1934
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Robert C. Nickerson Apr 11, 1935
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William Rowland Braden Jul 22, 1935
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William Louis Pappan
Dec 4, 1935
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John Ruskin Foster
May 14, 1936
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Donald C. Cleveland Nov 22, 1936
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William Thomas Butler Jan 7, 1937
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Wilford Winn Thomasson
Feb 14, 1937
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William James Tennis Sep 28, 1937
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William Edward Smith Dec 25, 1937
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William Joseph Jackson, Jr.
Mar 8, 1938
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William Franklin Berry
Mar 18, 1938
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James Logan Molloy
Jan 31, 1939
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Benjamin Richard Smallwood Jul 14, 1939
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Norval Lee DeArmond Jan 1, 1940
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Elvis Wesley Myrick Apr 3, 1940
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Samuel Leeper Jul 31, 1940
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Walter C. Guinn Jan 28, 1941
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Robert Richard Evans Apr 19, 1941
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Roy Neil Griffin
Aug 18, 1941
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Frederick Lewis Regan Sep 28, 1941
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William Milton Pugh
Nov 21, 1941
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Randall Oakes Younger
Jun 1, 1943
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Melvin John Clark Jun 17, 1947
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Jesse Wilburn Jones
Mar 3, 1948
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William Honkala Mar 7, 1948
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Milton Henry Rogers
Jul 12, 1948
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Merimon Hampton Barnes Apr 24, 1949
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Earl Raymond Harrouff Jan 12, 1950
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Oliver Holmes Cornelius
Feb 20, 1950
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 57-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
29 officers from United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Alcohol Tax Unit are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
