Border Patrol Stories
The Story of the Border Patrol Pistol Team Flag
as Told by Charlie Pirtle
as Told by Charlie Pirtle
Prior to the advent of PPC shooting, the Border Patrol was a strong team in Bullseye Competition. The Bullseye Nationals were then, as now, held at Camp Perry, Ohio, and if my memory serves me correctly, the firing line consisted of 600 firing points. As you may imagine, each team needed a meeting or rallying point, and we noticed that many teams, both military and civilian, had some sort of flag or banner to use as a gathering point. We decided we needed a flag also, and in 1963 we laid plans to have one by the next nationals.
Now, in those days, our team was noted for several things other than good marksmanship. We had a good guitar player, raconteur, and folk singer in Harry Aitken, a Border Patrol Pilot. Roy Huntley was also a good guitar picker, played the harmonica, and sang. Of course, much of the music was Mexican music, reflecting our ties to the border and seemed quaint to our fellow shooters from the North and East.
The team was well known for its humor, pranks, and practical jokes, and for its consumption of fiery spirits. Thus, the slogan on the flag "Tiran, Toman y Tocan," which of course translates to "They shoot, They drink, and They Play."
As previously mentioned, Harry Aitkens, had he not been a Border Patrolman, should surely have been an entertainer. He knew a million songs (Mexican and Folk songs), was an entertaining storyteller with a booming laugh, and had a knack for telling a joke few can do.
Harry told a joke, that we all liked so well, that it became the subject for the figure on the flag, as well as the Latin (with some license) phrase "Non Illegitimae Carborundum" Harry was fond of telling his teammates, "Don't let the bastards grind you down."
The joke was about two poor ol' illegal aliens, that were in a dreary Spartan camp, where they were engaged in running sheep through a dipping vat. One day they looked up from their labors to observe a dust column approaching from afar. They watched as the cloud topped ridge after ridge, drawing closer until they could make out that the source of the dust cloud was a huge man nearly 7 feet tall and about 300 pounds, riding an enormous grizzly bear and whipping the bear from side to side with a 6-foot rattlesnake! He rode into camp, sliding the grizzly to a stop on his haunches, dismounted, and threw down the rattler. He was unshaven and mean-looking and in a gruff voice said, "My bear's thirsty, give him some water." The poor frightened aliens promptly complied, giving the bear their last drop of water. The ferocious stranger then said, "I'm thirsty too, give me some water." The aliens, terrified of the consequences, told the stranger, "Pero Senor, ya no tenemos agua!" The stranger walked over to the dipping vat, took off his huge black hat, filled it to the brim with the nasty sheep dip, and drank every drop. Wiping his mouth on his sleeve, he picked up the rattlesnake, mounted the grizzly, and said, "Thanks fellers, I'd best be goin'. There's a mean SOB trailin' me!" Thus, the picture of the "PI" (as we were called then) riding the grizzly with the rattlesnake as a whip.
We contributed money for the materials, and Bruce Mosher, who had wonderful talents as a cartoonist (and more), did the artwork. Bruce was stationed in Chula Vista at the time, and his wife Mariana and a friend, Rosemary Browning, did all the embroidery.
We first flew our fine flag at the 1964 National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio. The 1964 team consisted of Tom Mataya, Pres Ogren, Bill Joyner, HR Mitchell, John Foreman, EW Hilden, Harry Aitken, Bruce Mosher, Roy Huntley, and Charlie Pirtle. The first person who stopped to admire and photograph the flag was a US Army General! He was much taken and amused by it. The flag created much interest and was a source of pride to the team. We began a tradition that the high shooter on the team at the Nationals took the flag home and cared for it until the next year. He was also required to make some improvement, e.g., a jointed staff, carrying case, dry cleaning, etc.
1965 was the last year that the Border Patrol Team attended the Bullseye Nationals as a team. The military teams were well supported and dominating the Bullseye competition, and the decision was made to change the team thrust to PPC competition. The team competed in PPC Nationals at Bloomington, Indiana, in 1966, 1967, and 1968. In 1969, the PPC Nationals were held in Jackson, Mississippi, for the first time.
Interestingly enough, the flag is likely older than some of the Border Patrolmen who now shoot under it, and most of them know nothing of its beginning or meaning. Thanks to Roberto Santos, perhaps this will serve to document the story of the flag, and I hope that when the time comes that the flag is retired due to age and/or condition, that it goes to the Border Patrol Museum.
I sure was proud to shoot under that flag for 24 years as a team member, and I'm grateful that now, after 13 years of retirement, I'm still made welcome to "gather" at the Border Patrol flag and shoot.
This is an oral history dictated to Roberto Santos. It was originally printed in the Border Patrol Academy Newsletter, 1997.
Charlie Pirtle passed away in Tijeras, N.M., on August 4, 2008. One of our best.
Now, in those days, our team was noted for several things other than good marksmanship. We had a good guitar player, raconteur, and folk singer in Harry Aitken, a Border Patrol Pilot. Roy Huntley was also a good guitar picker, played the harmonica, and sang. Of course, much of the music was Mexican music, reflecting our ties to the border and seemed quaint to our fellow shooters from the North and East.
The team was well known for its humor, pranks, and practical jokes, and for its consumption of fiery spirits. Thus, the slogan on the flag "Tiran, Toman y Tocan," which of course translates to "They shoot, They drink, and They Play."
As previously mentioned, Harry Aitkens, had he not been a Border Patrolman, should surely have been an entertainer. He knew a million songs (Mexican and Folk songs), was an entertaining storyteller with a booming laugh, and had a knack for telling a joke few can do.
Harry told a joke, that we all liked so well, that it became the subject for the figure on the flag, as well as the Latin (with some license) phrase "Non Illegitimae Carborundum" Harry was fond of telling his teammates, "Don't let the bastards grind you down."
The joke was about two poor ol' illegal aliens, that were in a dreary Spartan camp, where they were engaged in running sheep through a dipping vat. One day they looked up from their labors to observe a dust column approaching from afar. They watched as the cloud topped ridge after ridge, drawing closer until they could make out that the source of the dust cloud was a huge man nearly 7 feet tall and about 300 pounds, riding an enormous grizzly bear and whipping the bear from side to side with a 6-foot rattlesnake! He rode into camp, sliding the grizzly to a stop on his haunches, dismounted, and threw down the rattler. He was unshaven and mean-looking and in a gruff voice said, "My bear's thirsty, give him some water." The poor frightened aliens promptly complied, giving the bear their last drop of water. The ferocious stranger then said, "I'm thirsty too, give me some water." The aliens, terrified of the consequences, told the stranger, "Pero Senor, ya no tenemos agua!" The stranger walked over to the dipping vat, took off his huge black hat, filled it to the brim with the nasty sheep dip, and drank every drop. Wiping his mouth on his sleeve, he picked up the rattlesnake, mounted the grizzly, and said, "Thanks fellers, I'd best be goin'. There's a mean SOB trailin' me!" Thus, the picture of the "PI" (as we were called then) riding the grizzly with the rattlesnake as a whip.
We contributed money for the materials, and Bruce Mosher, who had wonderful talents as a cartoonist (and more), did the artwork. Bruce was stationed in Chula Vista at the time, and his wife Mariana and a friend, Rosemary Browning, did all the embroidery.
We first flew our fine flag at the 1964 National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio. The 1964 team consisted of Tom Mataya, Pres Ogren, Bill Joyner, HR Mitchell, John Foreman, EW Hilden, Harry Aitken, Bruce Mosher, Roy Huntley, and Charlie Pirtle. The first person who stopped to admire and photograph the flag was a US Army General! He was much taken and amused by it. The flag created much interest and was a source of pride to the team. We began a tradition that the high shooter on the team at the Nationals took the flag home and cared for it until the next year. He was also required to make some improvement, e.g., a jointed staff, carrying case, dry cleaning, etc.
1965 was the last year that the Border Patrol Team attended the Bullseye Nationals as a team. The military teams were well supported and dominating the Bullseye competition, and the decision was made to change the team thrust to PPC competition. The team competed in PPC Nationals at Bloomington, Indiana, in 1966, 1967, and 1968. In 1969, the PPC Nationals were held in Jackson, Mississippi, for the first time.
Interestingly enough, the flag is likely older than some of the Border Patrolmen who now shoot under it, and most of them know nothing of its beginning or meaning. Thanks to Roberto Santos, perhaps this will serve to document the story of the flag, and I hope that when the time comes that the flag is retired due to age and/or condition, that it goes to the Border Patrol Museum.
I sure was proud to shoot under that flag for 24 years as a team member, and I'm grateful that now, after 13 years of retirement, I'm still made welcome to "gather" at the Border Patrol flag and shoot.
This is an oral history dictated to Roberto Santos. It was originally printed in the Border Patrol Academy Newsletter, 1997.
Charlie Pirtle passed away in Tijeras, N.M., on August 4, 2008. One of our best.
U.S. Border Patrol National Pistol Team
The Story of the Border Patrol Pistol Team Flag
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.
