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James Randall Morgenson
Agency patch
Park Ranger

James Randall Morgenson

United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service — Washington, DC
Accident
United States flag District of Columbia flag
End of Watch July 23, 1996
Age 51
Tour of Duty 27 yrs
The Vigil Panel 143 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 39

Incident

Park Ranger James (Randy) Morgenson drowned after being swept over a waterfall while on a backcountry patrol in the Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park, California. Other rangers began to search for him after he failed to check in with dispatch at the regular time following the first day of the patrol.

Despite an exhaustive search, his remains were not found until July 2001, nearly five years after he went missing. The investigation indicated that he likely fell through a snow drift and broke his leg while crossing a creek, dying of associated injuries and hypothermia. His remains were washed down the creek and into a small cascade where they were hidden in the rocks for years.

Ranger Morgenson had served with the National Park Service for 27 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

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

27 years. You could have gone home.
Park Ranger Morgenson gave the United States Department of the Interior 27 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Park Ranger Morgenson.

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

Agency

Department United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service
Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdinpsfed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 23, 1996
Tour of Duty 27 yrs
Age 51
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

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

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1996, 49 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 98th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 51. 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. James had served 27 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Tuesdays: 14.1%.

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 the Interior - National Park Service has 40 officers remembered here, James among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Park Ranger James Randall Morgenson

United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service · End of Watch July 23, 1996

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 55-W

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