Border Patrol Stories
Blood Bath" Saved Me
It was winter, forget what year, as it's always winter in the North Maine Woods, circa 2004/2005. Jackman, Maine AOR.
Chris "Blood Bath" McGrath (1971-2023) came from Carrizo Springs Station to Rangley, Maine Station and back down to Laredo.
Chris could never sit still. He had his demons, but he was a solid man and Agent.
He saved my life, once upon a time.
One hard Winter, when I was in Jackman, Maine (the only midnight agent on-duty for Jackman) and Chris was in Rangeley, Maine (the only midnight agent on-duty on for Rangeley).
My vehicle became more than temporarily immobilized by environmental factors. Deep snow and well below freezing temps and wind chill were definitely immediate factors.
After spending a couple of hours trying to extricate myself from the deep snowbank impediment around 0200 (I was run off the road (dirt snow/ice, woods road) by a fuck-stick Canadian 24-wheeler log truck, in the USA).
I again attempted to make radio contact with Houlton Sector and the one Rangeley Agent I knew was on duty. Again, all to no avail. Imagine that , a USBP radio system sucking and not working.
I then tried the personal CB radio (yes, we all carried our own personally owned Citizen’s Band radios, (like Smokey and the Bandit). After repeated attempts, and after standing on the roof of my shitty service ride (a Ford Excursion, M3006), I made contact with an American Log truck driver. The truck driver repeated my situation and location, and was able to make contact with a Maine Game Warden. The Game Warden was able to hit Chris on CB.
Chris "Blood Bath' McGrath and a Maine Game Warden came to help, finally.
The log truck driver pulled over (later found out he was a USMC vet) so he could be the go between on CB traffic, because the the USBP radio system SUCKED, like it always has, everywhere, every time.
Apologies for digressing.
Anyhow, Chris and the Game Warden were able to get near enough to me to hear me honking the horn and to find me. I was extremely low on gas, even after turning trunk off and only running it for short bits, to warm up.
I had dug it out as good as I could with a small survival shovel but couldn't extricate myself. I did make sure to keep the tailpipe clear (or I obviously wouldn’t be here writing this tale).
Chris and the game warden hooked up the ratchet/tow straps I had and yanked me out.
If not for the American log truck driver relaying on the CB and giving a shit, Chris McGrath driving 140 miles and the game warden driving 90 miles to all help me, I may have died. That's a fact.
P.S. I have hated Winter ever since.
Temps were -31, windchill was -68
So, anyone reading this, please make sure his PA Brother Bruce and his Family hear about it. I have no contact info for them anymore.
I give permission to reprint this in Receourdos and on HonorFirst.com
Christopher Short
NGL/JMB/PRS/BRA
Watch Commander RETIRED
Chris "Blood Bath" McGrath (1971-2023) came from Carrizo Springs Station to Rangley, Maine Station and back down to Laredo.
Chris could never sit still. He had his demons, but he was a solid man and Agent.
He saved my life, once upon a time.
One hard Winter, when I was in Jackman, Maine (the only midnight agent on-duty for Jackman) and Chris was in Rangeley, Maine (the only midnight agent on-duty on for Rangeley).
My vehicle became more than temporarily immobilized by environmental factors. Deep snow and well below freezing temps and wind chill were definitely immediate factors.
After spending a couple of hours trying to extricate myself from the deep snowbank impediment around 0200 (I was run off the road (dirt snow/ice, woods road) by a fuck-stick Canadian 24-wheeler log truck, in the USA).
I again attempted to make radio contact with Houlton Sector and the one Rangeley Agent I knew was on duty. Again, all to no avail. Imagine that , a USBP radio system sucking and not working.
I then tried the personal CB radio (yes, we all carried our own personally owned Citizen’s Band radios, (like Smokey and the Bandit). After repeated attempts, and after standing on the roof of my shitty service ride (a Ford Excursion, M3006), I made contact with an American Log truck driver. The truck driver repeated my situation and location, and was able to make contact with a Maine Game Warden. The Game Warden was able to hit Chris on CB.
Chris "Blood Bath' McGrath and a Maine Game Warden came to help, finally.
The log truck driver pulled over (later found out he was a USMC vet) so he could be the go between on CB traffic, because the the USBP radio system SUCKED, like it always has, everywhere, every time.
Apologies for digressing.
Anyhow, Chris and the Game Warden were able to get near enough to me to hear me honking the horn and to find me. I was extremely low on gas, even after turning trunk off and only running it for short bits, to warm up.
I had dug it out as good as I could with a small survival shovel but couldn't extricate myself. I did make sure to keep the tailpipe clear (or I obviously wouldn’t be here writing this tale).
Chris and the game warden hooked up the ratchet/tow straps I had and yanked me out.
If not for the American log truck driver relaying on the CB and giving a shit, Chris McGrath driving 140 miles and the game warden driving 90 miles to all help me, I may have died. That's a fact.
P.S. I have hated Winter ever since.
Temps were -31, windchill was -68
So, anyone reading this, please make sure his PA Brother Bruce and his Family hear about it. I have no contact info for them anymore.
I give permission to reprint this in Receourdos and on HonorFirst.com
Christopher Short
NGL/JMB/PRS/BRA
Watch Commander RETIRED
Blood Bath" Saved Me
DISCLAIMER: The views and experiences shared in this story are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of HonorFirst.com, the U.S. Border Patrol, or any government agency. These stories are presented for historical and cultural insight and have been submitted by current or former Border Patrol employees with minimal editing for clarity.
