“The 103 souls represented by the stars on the wall behind me all heard the same call to duty and answered it without hesitation—never for acclaim, always for country. They devoted their hearts and minds to a mission unlike any other, at an agency unlike any other, serving on the world’s most dangerous frontiers to defend our people, defeat our adversaries, and advance our freedoms. Their words and deeds will inspire us forever, and their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.”

Director David H. Petraeus (May 22 2012)

The Memorial Wall is a memorial at the Central Intelligence Agency headquarters in Langley, Virginia. It honors CIA employees who died in the line of service. There are 133 stars carved into the white Alabama marble wall.

On May 22 2012, the Central Intelligence Agency held its annual memorial ceremony to pay tribute to the men and women of CIA who have died in the line of duty. One star was added to the Memorial Wall. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY

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A special page  “CIA Book of Honor” has been created. This will allow you to find easily the references to the stars we have already written about. I will try to keep this page up to date.

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Jeffrey R. Patneau died in Yemen in 2008 from injuries sustained in a car accident. He was 26.

Jeffrey R. Patneau is the 103rd CIA officer recognized as having died in the line of duty.

On May 22 2012, DCIA Director David H. Petraeus honored the memory of Jeffrey R. Patneau.

“Jeff proved that he had boundless talent, courage, and innovativeness to offer to our country in its fight against terrorism.

Tested by adversity, Jeff had been more than equal to every task.

He was taken from us just as he had begun what promised to be a brilliant career and a life of great consequence—one of faithful service to the people he loved and to the nation he revered.”

Patneau’s name had not been publicly linked to the CIA previously.

The car crash in Yemen that killed him occurred on September 29, 2008.

US Officials dispute an al-Qaida claim that he was killed during a well-publicized attack on the U.S. Embassy in the capital, Sanaa, on September 17 2008.

Statistics by cause since 9/11

Killed in combat :: 79 – 82 – 83 – 86 = (4)

Training exercise :: 80 = (1)

Travel accidents :: 81 – 87 – 103 – 114 – 115 – 116 – 117 – 118 – 119  – 120  – 130 – 131 = (12)

Other accidents :: 84 (electrocuted) – 85 (electrocuted) = (2)

Classified :: 121 = (1)

These statistics only include the list of stars I have discussed so far.

Methodology

When the CIA honor several officers with a star during the same ceremony, I have no way of knowing the star number of a given individual.

However, according to CIA records, Rachel Dean is star #87. Therefore, I will assume that — in such case — the stars are ranked according to the year of death.

This may or may not be the methodology used by the CIA. For instance, they might use the number of years served at the Agency.

When several individuals die on the same day (same event), I rank their stars by alphabetical order. Again, the CIA may use a different methodology.

REFERENCES

CIA Holds Annual Memorial Ceremony to Honor Fallen Colleagues (May  22 2012) — CIA Website

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The CIA Book of Honor — Star 103 : Jeffrey R. Patneau [Yemen — September 2008]