Border Patrol Stories
Paying it Forward
My brother, Border Patrol Agent John Charles Gigax, was killed in the line of duty in 1999. His name is inscribed on the National Law Enforcement Officer's Memorial.
Several years ago my son became interested in archery. After about a month of begging I caved in and me telling him "no", I took him to to Fort Caroline Archery Club. While we were in the club's little shop, I saw some Border Patrol items. I asked the man running the shop about those items and he told me his dad had been in the Border Patrol. His father's name was Michael T. Box, and he had been named after his father.
Now, I remembered that last name. There had been a Border Patrol Pilot named "Box" that had been killed in the line of duty many years before.
I can't remember if Michael Jr. was very young or not born yet, but he told me he never knew his dad, and his family never talked about it.
So, I followed up on this and I emailed someone at the Border Patrol Academy and told them the story. They sent me Michael T. Box's Silent Partner Card and a Border Patrol ball cap. When my son and I returned couple weeks later to pick up our new bows and arrows, I gave him the gifts. This man 20 years my elder started to cry.
I pay it forward every chance I get.
Several years ago my son became interested in archery. After about a month of begging I caved in and me telling him "no", I took him to to Fort Caroline Archery Club. While we were in the club's little shop, I saw some Border Patrol items. I asked the man running the shop about those items and he told me his dad had been in the Border Patrol. His father's name was Michael T. Box, and he had been named after his father.
Now, I remembered that last name. There had been a Border Patrol Pilot named "Box" that had been killed in the line of duty many years before.
I can't remember if Michael Jr. was very young or not born yet, but he told me he never knew his dad, and his family never talked about it.
So, I followed up on this and I emailed someone at the Border Patrol Academy and told them the story. They sent me Michael T. Box's Silent Partner Card and a Border Patrol ball cap. When my son and I returned couple weeks later to pick up our new bows and arrows, I gave him the gifts. This man 20 years my elder started to cry.
I pay it forward every chance I get.
Paying it Forward
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.
