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Jack Elmer Kenford
Incident
Special Agent Jack Kenford was killed when an illegal still exploded as he and other agents were attempting to destroy it in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. The still had been constructed in a dugout approximately 30-feet above the bottom of a ravine. As the agents and an informant began to dismantle the still it suddenly exploded. The force of the explosion was directed toward the opening of the dugout and struck Agent Kenford, causing him to suffer severe burns over his entire upper body. The other agent, who was also injured, was able to get Agent Kenford to their car and then returned to the scene to assist the informant. In a confused state, Agent Kenford walked approximately one mile to a roadway where a passerby picked him up and took him to a hospital. He died at the hospital the next day. The other agent and informant recovered from their injuries.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- September 17, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Special Agent Kenford served with the United States Department of Justice.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Kenford.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
United States Department of Justice - Bureau of Prohibition has lost 35 officers; 13 of them lost to accidents.
Jack is one of 453 officers lost to accidents in DC, 31.9% of the 1,419 remembered there.
Jack is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Jack is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1932, 6 officers at United States Department of Justice - Bureau of Prohibition were lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1932, 10 officers in DC were lost to accidents, the 5th heaviest of 125 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 14.
In 1932, 110 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 4th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1932, 121 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 3rd heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
When
June holds 7.7% of these deaths at United States Department of Justice - Bureau of Prohibition; February holds the most, 15.4%. Tuesdays: 15.4%.
June holds 7.3% of these deaths in DC; July holds the most, 10.6%. Tuesdays: 13.9%.
June holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Tuesdays: 14.1%.
June holds 7.9% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Tuesdays: 14%.
How
Accident deaths account for 37.1% of all 35 deaths at United States Department of Justice - Bureau of Prohibition, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 31.9% of all 1,419 deaths in DC, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
United States Department of Justice - Bureau of Prohibition has 35 officers remembered here, Jack among them.
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Dale F. Kearney
Jul 6, 1930
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Zaccheus Raymond Sutton
Aug 28, 1930
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John G. Finiello
Sep 19, 1930
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Mack Carroll Parsons Sep 20, 1930
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Asa Hawkins Dec 20, 1930
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Holmer L. Everett May 2, 1931
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Curtis C. Burks Jul 22, 1931
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Walter M. Gilbert
Jul 22, 1931
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John Irwin Wilson
Jul 22, 1931
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Raymond L. Ezzell
Jul 27, 1931
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Walter T. Creviston Jul 30, 1931
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George V. Trabing
Aug 19, 1931
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Lindsly P. Bulnes Jan 23, 1932
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Robert Mansfield Buck Feb 1, 1932
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Eugene Joseph Pearce
Feb 9, 1932
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Henry Harrison Jackson Apr 17, 1932
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Jack Elmer Kenford
Jun 14, 1932
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Eugene Jackson
Jul 31, 1932
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James G. Harney
Sep 23, 1932
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Ballard White Turner
Sep 29, 1932
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Howard Brooke Oursler Oct 12, 1932
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Ernest B. Vlasich
Oct 14, 1932
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Frank Allen Mather Oct 15, 1932
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Chester Arthur Mason
Nov 12, 1932
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William Theodore Balding
Nov 16, 1932
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Arthur James Sanderson
Dec 29, 1932
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William Smith Grubb
Mar 31, 1933
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Levi Gladstone Trexler Mar 31, 1933
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Leonard Agnew Welty
Apr 13, 1933
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Leroy Richard Wood Apr 16, 1933
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Harry Hampton Elliott
Jun 22, 1933
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Paul Albro Read
Jul 21, 1933
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Herman Sutton Barbrey Jan 5, 1934
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Parker Hittinger Hall Feb 3, 1934
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Herbert R. Johnson May 21, 1934
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 6-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
34 officers from United States Department of Justice - Bureau of Prohibition are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
