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Don Cleo Ware
Incident
Location: Overseas Incident Date: Monday, June 9, 1975 Weapon: Rifle; M-16 Offender: Never apprehended
Special Agent Don Ware died in 2004 from complications of gunshot wounds suffered in Mexico on June 9, 1975.
He and another agent were working an undercover operation in San Luis, Mexico when they were kidnapped and beaten by several suspects.
The assailants had taken the agents' guns, but did not find one of the guns that Agent Ware was carrying. Agent Ware was able to access his concealed weapon, allowing the two agents to escape. The suspects opened fire with M-16 rifles, during which time Agent Ware was shot twice.
The main suspect was arrested sometime after the incident and served time for shooting a Mexican federal agent, but no one was ever charged in connection with shooting Agent Ware or the other agent.
Agent Ware suffered critical injuries and remained in intensive care for four months, during which time he underwent multiple blood transfusions. He contracted hepatitis during one of the transfusions. He also lost a kidney, 60% of his liver, his gallbladder and part of his intestines.
Special Agent Ware went back to his position at the DEA a year later. As a result of contracting hepatitis, later in his life he suffered cirrhosis of the liver. By undergoing Interferon therapy he was able to rid his body of hepatitis, but significant damage remained. Because of the gunshot injuries he underwent many surgeries over the years before medically retiring in 1997. The last of these surgeries resulted in his death October 12, 2004.
Agent Ware served with the DEA for 25 years. He was preceded in death by his third daughter, and survived by his wife and three daughters.
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
25 years. You could have gone home.
Special Agent Ware gave the United States Department of Justice 25 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Ware.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
United States Department of Justice - Drug Enforcement Administration has lost 38 officers; 18 of them killed feloniously.
Don is one of 1,461 officers killed feloniously in TX, 60.3% of the 2,422 remembered there.
Don is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Don 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 2004, 1 officer at United States Department of Justice - Drug Enforcement Administration was killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 17 years on record. The heaviest was 1988, with 2.
In 2004, 8 officers in TX were killed feloniously, the 81st heaviest of 180 years on record. The heaviest was 1928, with 19.
In 2004, 79 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 86th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 2004, 84 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 81st heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Don was 64. Of the 18 killed feloniously at United States Department of Justice - Drug Enforcement Administration whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 41.5; the middle age was 37. Don had served 25 years; the middle length of service was 9.5 years.
Don was 64. Of the 1,330 killed feloniously in TX whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 37. Don had served 25 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
Don was 64. 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. Don had served 25 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Don was 64. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Don had served 25 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
October holds 11.1% of these deaths at United States Department of Justice - Drug Enforcement Administration; December holds the most, 22.2%. Tuesdays: 11.1%.
October holds 7.2% of these deaths in TX; December holds the most, 10.4%. Tuesdays: 11.2%.
October holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.
October holds 7.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Tuesdays: 13.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 47.4% of all 38 deaths at United States Department of Justice - Drug Enforcement Administration, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle; m-16, in 5.6% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 60.3% of all 2,422 deaths in TX, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle; m-16, in 0.1% 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; m-16, in 0% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle; m-16, in 0% of these deaths.
His people
United States Department of Justice - Drug Enforcement Administration has 38 officers remembered here, Don among them.
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Emir Benitez
Aug 9, 1973
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Nickolas I. Fragos
Aug 5, 1974
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Charles H. Mann
Aug 5, 1974
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Larry Dale Wallace
Dec 19, 1975
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James T. Lunn
May 14, 1976
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Ralph N. Shaw
May 14, 1976
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Octavio Gonzales
Dec 13, 1976
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Francis J. Miller
Mar 5, 1977
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Robert Carter Lightfoot
Nov 23, 1977
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Thomas J. Devine
Sep 25, 1982
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Larry N. Carwell
Jan 9, 1984
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Enrique Salazar Camarena
Feb 9, 1985
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William Ramos
Dec 31, 1986
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Raymond J. Stastny
Jan 26, 1987
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Arthur L. Cash
Aug 25, 1987
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George M. Montoya
Feb 5, 1988
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Paul S. Seema
Feb 6, 1988
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Everett Emerson Hatcher
Feb 28, 1989
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Rickie C. Finley
May 20, 1989
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Alan H. Winn
Aug 13, 1991
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George Douglas Althouse
May 28, 1992
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Becky Lee Dwojeski-Phipps
Oct 21, 1993
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Richard E. Fass
Jun 30, 1994
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Frank Fernandez, Jr.
Aug 27, 1994
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Jay W. Seale
Aug 27, 1994
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Meredith Thompson
Aug 27, 1994
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Juan C. Vars
Aug 27, 1994
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Frank S. Wallace, Jr.
Aug 27, 1994
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Kenneth Glenn McCullough
Apr 19, 1995
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Shaun Edmond Curl
Dec 12, 1997
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Terrance Patrick Loftus
May 28, 2004
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Don Cleo Ware
Oct 12, 2004
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Thomas Joseph Byrne
Aug 30, 2008
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Chad L. Michael
Oct 26, 2009
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Forrest Nelson Leamon
Oct 26, 2009
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Michael E. Weston
Oct 26, 2009
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James Terry Watson
Jun 21, 2013
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Michael Gale Garbo
Oct 4, 2021
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 58-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
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