William Howard James
Agency patch
Patrolman

William Howard James

Tennessee Highway Patrol — Nashville, TN
Accident
End of Watch September 14, 1942
Age 24
Tour of Duty 4 mo
The Vigil Panel 79 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman William James was killed in a motorcycle crash on Maple Street in the Kingwood Heights section of Murfreesboro. He was escorting a military convoy at the time of the accident. Patrolman James had served with the Tennessee Highway Patrol for only six months.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, 5-month-old child, parents, and two sisters.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
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.
Patrolman James served with the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
Thank you for your service to the people of Tennessee. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman James.

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

Agency

Type Highway Patrol
Location Nashville, Davidson County, TN
Platform Identity thp.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 14, 1942
Tour of Duty 4 mo
Age 24
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

William 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 1942, 65 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 65th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 24. 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. William had served 0.3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

September holds 9.2% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Mondays: 13.4%.

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

Tennessee Highway Patrol has 41 officers remembered here, William among them.

VI

Where

Patrolman William Howard James

Tennessee Highway Patrol · End of Watch September 14, 1942

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 46-E

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