Good morning!
 
Welcome to another This Week in USBP History!  
 
I thought I’d start this week’s update by repeating an answer to a question that was posed to me, “Why do you do this?”  That question was in reference to helping Ray Harris manage HonorFirst.com, moderate the Applicant's Forum and Agent’s Forum, regularly contacting some you active folks, and generally remaining very engaged with the U.S. Border Patrol.  For example, it takes me over two hours to create these weekly updates (and I still don’t catch all of the typos).  Here’s the answer... <cue the patriotic music>…
 
The last three years of my career my motivation for doing the job, and pushing my chain of command was because I cared, in an Esprit de Corps sense, for the Patrol and the workforce (uniformed and non-uniformed).  Interestingly, in a know thyself moment, I realized that I cared about the workforce more than the work.  I cared more about those doing and who had done the job, than the job.  That's what keeps me here.  That's why I send emails to the active folks, author these emails, take daily USBP phone calls/emails, etc...  I care because I care about the U.S. Border Patrol and its current and former employees, just like you.  I send emails to current leadership and take calls nearly everyday, in the belief that I may have just a smidgeon of influence to make the being part of the USBP better for the workforce (past and present).  The value to me is intrinsic.  I makes me feel good to do good for “them".  It makes me feel good when I can right wrongs or merely offer assistance. 
 
Before I retired I used to say, “I’m an unapologetic advocate for the workforce.”  In retirement, I realize that I never shed that identity. 
<patriotic music fades to silence>
 
Thank you for your patience. Now to the update!
 
Notice that I've added a bit of commentary in the Esprit de Corps section.  Take a short moment to read it.  No matter where you work, the concepts are transferable.
 
The main highlight this week are:

• A collection of documents from June 1924.  One provides the earliest confirmation that I've been able to find of the title, "Border Patrol Inspector."  The other two identifies some of the earliest Border Patrol Inspector hires.
  
• Documents describing a 1927 shooting where an Inspector was stabbed, and
  
• A 1940 15-document giving advice to the workforce concerning promotions.

 
We also remember the anniversaries of the actions that led to four agents receiving Newton-Azrak Awards.  Three of those agents also were awarded the USBP Purple Cross for wounds received in the scope of duty.
 
Finally, we remember fallen Border Patrol Inspector Charles F. Inch.
 
Have a great week!
 
Cliff
PS - 

• As an open and continuous invitation to current and former USBP employees, I am always accepting photos to post in the USBP Photo Galleries and in the Upholding Honor First pages.  I sure would appreciate you visiting those pages and sending me anything that you think I could post (just attach them to a reply to this email).
  
• As always, make sure to explore all of the hyperlinks to documents and pages.
  
• Finally, please forward this blog to whomever you think may enjoy it.

It's easy to scroll by this section as you get to the meat of the email.  But realize, I purposely include this section every time because I think it's important.  Organizations that lack organizational pride and high employee morale (Esprit de Corps) are not as effective and successful as otherwise possible.  They will forever fail to meet full potential.
 
Those in positions of leadership have the obligation and responsibility to be vigilant in driving organizational pride and addressing employee perceptions.  If not, the organization can be likened to a ship without a rudder that is destined to run aground on the rocks of low retention, high attrition and a multitude of other issues.
 
The definition of Esprit de Corps below is meant to be a guide and a constant reminder.  Without comprehensive, deliberate and sincere effort by leadership, Esprit de Corps will slowly deteriorate. 


Esprit de Corps
 
The workplace climate resulting from a combination of organizational pride and employee morale.

• Organizational pride is the positive feeling experienced by employees from being part of a meaningful team that is rich in history, tradition and culture.
• Employee morale is the feeling experienced by employee based in part on their perception of:
  • Being valued by the organization,
  • Fairly compensated, and
  • Performing meaningful work.

 
Esprit de corps is reinforced through the shared goals, mission and values of the organization and its employees.

The definition turns Esprit de Corps into a simple formula and defines parts that comprise organizational pride and employee morale.

Esprit de Corps = Organizational Pride + Employee Morale

Esprit de Corps is the key to a healthy organization and engaged employees.

​Honor First is foundational to the Border Patrol's organizational pride and integral to its Esprit de Corps.

1989
Charles A. Rodgers Jr.
Border Patrol Pilot
Del Rio Sector
On July 2, 1988, while patrolling the Rio Grande River near Del Rio, Texas via Service helicopter, Border Patrol Pilot Charles A. Rodgers Jr. located three persons, one male and two females, who had recently landed on the United States side of the river illegally by the use of tire inner tubes. 
 
As he circled the area, he advised the party of three, utilizing the helicopter public address system, against attempting to return to Mexico by swimming because of the depth and swiftness of the river. He noticed that the male subject, who did not heed the warning and proceeded to swim across the river towards Mexico, was having difficulty remaining above the surface. Rodgers lowered the helicopter and advised the victim to grab the landing skid. The victim managed to grasp the skid but due to exhaustion could not hold fast. Rodgers made a final attempt to save the male subject by hovering dangerously above the surface and lowered the skid into the water, but the victim apparently lost consciousness and did not surface again. He gained altitude in order to direct the rescuer and allow him to help the victim, but the rescuer was also having difficulty staying afloat. With total disregard for his personal safety, Rodgers lowered the Service helicopter perilously to the surface of the river. The rescuer was able to clutch the skid and was taken to safety on the Mexican shoreline.

 
1995
Juanita Santana - photo
Border Patrol Agent
Tucson Sector 
On June 29, 1995, Border Patrol Agent Juanita Santana of the Tucson Border Patrol Station, was assigned to patrol a major smuggling route south of Tucson, Arizona.
 
Shortly after 5:00 p.m., Agent Santana observed a suspicious vehicle and conducted a normal vehicle stop.  When she reached the rear door of the car, the driver, without warning, pointed a handgun out of his window and immediately began firing at her.  Two shots struck her in the chest directly over her heart.  Both bullets were stopped by a bulletproof vest she was wearing.  A third shot struck her left forearm and completely penetrated it below the elbow.  The fourth shot struck her ammunition pouch, which was fastened to her gun belt.  This fourth bullet disintegrated on impact and Agent Santana was struck in the abdomen by shrapnel from the bullet.  
 
Although struck four times and seriously wounded, Agent Santana drew her revolver and returned fire at the driver.  Agent Santana ran back to her patrol vehicle and immediately began to pursue the fleeing suspects.  She radioed for assistance and informed the Communications Center that she had been shot.  Even though she was injured and bleeding heavily, she maintained her composure and clearly broadcast all pertinent suspect information.  

She also received the USBP Purple Cross for this action.

 
2005
Christopher D. Brinkhoff
Border Patrol Agent
Tucson Sector
Juan H. Villa
Border Patrol Agent
Tucson Sector
Border Patrol Agent Christopher D. Brinkhoff and Border Patrol Agent Juan H. Villa were recognized for extraordinary courage and valor during the performance of their duties on June 30, 2005, when they discovered evidence that there were narcotics smugglers in the remote desert area of Nogales, Arizona.  At approximately 12:25 p.m., the agents encountered a group of 10 to 12 individuals.  Immediately, an unknown number of the group began to fire at the agents. During the exchange of gunfire, both Agents Brinkhoff and Villa were shot in the right leg. The agents, suffering from shattered femurs, relayed via radio that they were down and needed assistance.  A subsequent search of the area revealed 498.1 pounds of marijuana hidden in the brush.

​Both agents received USBP Purple Crosses for the action.

1932
Charles F. Inch
Date of Birth:                     April 8, 1902
Entered on Duty:               October 14, 1930
Title:                                   Patrol Inspector
End of Watch:                    June 26, 1932
 
Details:
The limited information available relative to Patrol Inspector Charles F. Inch indicates that he was attempting to board a moving freight train but was thrown from it, the wheels passing over his body. He was pursuing two aliens who were attempting to enter illegally from Canada. The fatal accident occurred in the Michigan Central tunnel yard at Detroit, Michigan, on June 26, 1932.
 
Survivor benefits - As per this document, his mother and father received $46.50 per month.
 
Gravesite

Good morning!
 
Welcome to another This Week in USBP History!  
 
I want to start today's email with a sincere thank you to you.  Thank you for letting me send these emails to you, reading them and giving me feedback.  Thank you for letting me be part of the Border Patrol family even into retirement.  It is incredibly meaningful for me to be able to do this. Thank you!  
 
This week brings us more interesting historic documents:

• A 30-page document from 1924 naming many of the first people to become Border Patrol Inspectors (its a collection of separate documents that I put into a single file),
  
• Willard Kelly's 1924 Oath of Office (he would become the 4th Chief of the Border Patrol),
  
• A 1936 document that would mark the beginning of the end of puttees and boots for the USBP uniform, and much more!

 
A great highlight of today is an email from retired Deputy Chief of the Border Patrol Ronald Colburn where he shares the very recent loss of his mother, stories from when he was a young agent and illustrates 4 generations of Colburns patrolling the border.
 
We remember three Newton-Azrak Award recipients, two of which are part of this email list. 
 
Also, we remember two of our fallen.
 
Have a great week!
Cliff
 
PS - 

• As an open and continuous invitation to current and former USBP employees, I am always accepting photos to post in the USBP Photo Galleries and in the Upholding Honor First pages.  I sure would appreciate you visiting those pages and sending me anything that you think I could post (just attach them to a reply to this email).
• As always, make sure to explore all of the hyperlinks to documents and pages.

Email from Retired Deputy Chief of the Border Patrol Ronald Colburn 
 
I am incredibly fortunate to be in a position to share USBP history with so many.  In doing this, I am privileged to exchange emails and telephone calls with people who have shaped and continue to contribute to the United States Border Patrol.  One of these people is Ron Colburn, a great person by every definition.  
 
Yesterday, Ron sent me an email in response to last week's request for information concerning the impacts that the deaths of Border Patrol Inspector Newton and Border Patrol Inspector Azrak had on the organization, specifically in regards to checkpoint operations and initial training for new hires.
 
He began his email by sharing that his mother, M. Diana Colburn, had sadly passed on June 17, 2022.  I know that all of you join me in offering our deepest condolences.
 
Below, with Ron's permission, I have included a lightly edited version of the email that he sent me.  I have added hyperlinks that I hope are correct. It offers a great firsthand account of Ron's earliest days in the Patrol and an incredible glimpse of what may be the only family to have four generations patrolling the border.
 
My comments are italicized.

***Email Begins***

Yesterday, my 93-year-old mother, M. Diana Colburn passed away.  She was the eldest matriarch of a 4-generation family of border protectors, defenders & patrollers.  
 
She was daughter-in-law to:

• William Colburn, Mounted Guard, c. 1915-1917;
  
• Wife of the late Richard Colburn —my Dad—Class #65, USBP Academy, El Paso, TX, 1956.
  
• Her eldest son (me) EOD’d in 1978, Class #125.  
  
• Her grandson (my son) EOD’d in June 2003, Class #553.

 
Also:  The Newton-Azrak incident did not uniformly change checkpoint ops. tactics, as I still stood point—middle of the night— along remote roadways, with only myself and one other Agent back in 1978-1983, @ the TCA/DGL Station. (Douglas Station in Arizona)
 
In August 1978, I EOD’d in Tucson, AZ and was assigned to the Douglas Station.  After being sworn in, filling out reams of paperwork & being driven down to Pima Uniforms (Tucson) for rough duty shirts, pants & leather gear during my first day, I was then given directions to the DGL station on the back of a paper napkin and sent on my 125-mile drive to my new duty post.  
 
I showed up the next morning, from the local landmark Gadsden Hotel, in rough duty shirt & pants, a river belt, with holster, loops, cuff case and keepers, but no pistol, badge, cuffs or ammo.
I
 stepped in the back door of the “old” DGL BP Station at 10 till 7, and only the PAIC was there—he inquired, “Are you Colburn?”  I said, “Yes, sir.”  He snatched up a leather pouch & keys from his desk and tossed them at me.  He growled, “You got Naco today!”  (Note:  Naco, now known as the Brian Terry Station, was a sub-office of the DGL Station, and was only then being staffed up for independent operations).
 
I said, “Where’s Naco?”  He said, “Just drive west 22 miles, along the border road; you can’t miss it!”  I did.  I ended up 45 miles to the West, in Sierra Vista, and promptly arrested 4 illegals from Mexico coming out of the brush roadside, just as I drove up on them.  
 
Being a border brat, I spoke some Spanish / Spanglish and squeezed all four into the backseat bench of my marked patrol sedan.  Then, I fumbled with the unit’s radio until I raised someone on the radio (a surprised PAIC Blankenship, DGL) who dispatched the nearest available Journeyman to assist with transport & processing (I had no idea where I was and didn’t leave for the Academy until 12 days later).  Evidently, they didn’t realize that I was a Border Patrol brat and actually recognized an illegal alien, so nobody was actually expecting me to arrest anyone.
 
Mind you, I was in uniform & driving a patrol vehicle, but I had no badge, no gun, etc.  They figured out that probably wasn’t a wise practice, and I spent most of the rest of the time mending barbed wire border fence; cleaning out the storage room; changing tires on patrol vehicles, and about anything else to keep me busy and “out of harm’s way,” until they could ship me off to the Academy.
 
I remember hearing about the Newton-Azrak incident when I was about 12 years old, and we had just moved to Campo, CA from Rouses Pt., NY. — summer of ‘68 (a year after the incident).  My Dad had just EOD’d at Campo as the ‘Station Second Senior’ (years later renamed ‘APAIC’). ​(Today the position is called Deputy Patrol Agent in Charge - DPAIC).
 
So anyway, my point was that the tactical changes were likely local and sporadic, since some stations still practiced Newton-Azrak styled ops into the eighties, at least.  That’s probably why you didn’t find any written policy.
 
Best Regards,
Ron Colburn 

​Esprit de Corps
 
The workplace climate resulting from a combination of organizational pride and employee morale.

• Organizational pride is the positive feeling experienced by employees from being part of a meaningful team that is rich in history, tradition and culture.
• Employee morale is the feeling experienced by employee based in part on their perception of:
  • Being valued by the organization,
  • Fairly compensated, and
  • Performing meaningful work.

 
Esprit de corps is reinforced through the shared goals, mission and values of the organization and its employees.

The definition turns Esprit de Corps into a simple formula and defines parts that comprise organizational pride and employee morale.

Esprit de Corps = Organizational Pride + Employee Morale

Esprit de Corps is the key to a healthy organization and engaged employees.

​Honor First is foundational to the Border Patrol's organizational pride and integral to its Esprit de Corps.

1990
Robert E. Jolicoeur
Border Patrol Agent
Del Rio Sector
On June 21, 1990, Border Patrol Agent Robert E. Jolicoeur responded to a call for assistance from the Eagle Pass Police Department concerning a possible hostage situation.  After lengthy negotiations with the heavily armed suspect by local policy authorities had failed, Agent Jolicoeur risked his life to disarm and subdue the individual.  His professionalism and unselfish dedication resulted in the successful termination of a critical situation without injury or loss of life. 
 
​
1994
John D. Marlborough
Senior Patrol Agent
El Centro Sector
On June 21, 1994, agents from the Riverside Border Patrol Station were working information in the Moreno Valley area near Riverside, California.  The agents were traveling down Gilman Springs Road and were passing a large onion field being harvested when agents saw several of the pickers start to run.  Senior Patrol Agent John D. Marlborough obtained permission from the foreman and consent was given for the agents to check the crew.  As agents were working their way through the crew of almost 100 workers, they saw another subject bolt from the group and run away.  Agent Saturnino Natera pursued the individual until he dove headfirst into Mystic Lake and swam away from the shoreline.  Agent Natera stopped at the water’s edge and advised the subject that, for his own safety, he should not try to evade arrest by swimming out into the lake.  As the other agents kept watch on the subject, Agent Natera left to chase other abscondees.
 
Agent Aricelia Sandoval was attempting to talk the subject out of the water when she noticed that he seemed to be having difficulty keeping his head above water.  Agent John Marlborough arrived at the scene, removed his gear, and entered the lake.  As he approached the subject, who at this time was almost 400 yards off the shore, he attempted to secure the person and bring him back to the shore.  The subject continued to resist until he was too waterlogged to fight anymore.  At the time, Agent Marlborough swam back to the shore with the semi-conscious alien in tow.  The alien was removed from the water without injury and did not require first aid.  It was later determined at the Border Patrol station that he was a criminal alien.  
 
Agent Marlborough risked his own life in order to save the life of an alien attempting to evade arrest. 
 

1999
Jay Visconti - ​photo, statuette​
Border Patrol Agent
San Diego Sector
On June 24, 1999, Border Patrol Agent Jay Visconti observed an automobile driving erratically on northbound Interstate 15, in San Diego, California.  Agent Visconti was on-duty and returning from firearms training.  Agent Visconti maneuvered his marked Border Patrol sedan closer to the erratically moving automobile and was able to ascertain that the driver of the vehicle was in serious distress.  Agent Visconti then observed that the front seat passenger was attempting to steer the vehicle.
 
Agent Visconti realized that this was an extremely grave situation.  Traffic was very congested during this time and there was a great deal of danger to the safety of the motoring public.  Agent Visconti activated his overhead lights and created a traffic break.  The erratically moving vehicle did not stop, but pulled over to the shoulder of the road and continued at a slow rate of speed.  Agent Visconti pulled over and, exiting his vehicle, ran alongside of the offending vehicle until he was able to jump in through the passenger window and turn off the ignition.
 
The driver was apparently suffering from a heart attack.  Agent Visconti immediately activated the emergency medical system and proceeded to render first aid treatment.  When the San Diego Police and Fire Departments arrived, the driver was in full cardiac arrest and Agent Visconti was performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on her.
 
Tragically, the afflicted driver of the automobile did not survive.  Upon being relieved of performing CPR, Agent Visconti was instrumental in directing the fast moving traffic around the scene of the stop and providing much needed support to the grieving passenger.

USBP Fallen

As of May 16, 2022, the U.S. Border Patrol has suffered 152* fallen.
Titles:

• 3 Mounted Watchmen fell before 1924 and are carried as Border Patrol fallen
• 48 Border Patrol Inspectors fell between 1924 and 1970
• 100 Border Patrol Agents have fallen since 1970
• 1 Enforcement Analysis Specialist

The names that appear below hold a place of honor. They have made the ultimate sacrifice in an effort to fulfill the oath each officer took to protect and defend the United States of America.

The facts regarding each officer are presented without major editing of the "language of the day" found in the reports detailing the circumstances of each event. This is done to provide the reader an association with historical timeframes.

Employees who died in the line of duty due to being exposed to deadly illnesses will not have the cause of death listed.

*With the exception of two of the fallen immediately below, all names are listed (or in the process of being included) on the official Honor Roll of U.S. Border Patrol Fallen and inscribed on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.  The U.S. Border Patrol should fix these discrepancies. HonorFirst.com honors both of the fallen.

• Joe R. White - He is recognized as officially fallen by the U.S. Border Patrol but his name is not inscribed on the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial.
• John Charles Gigax - He is not recognized as officially fallen by Customs and Border Protection or the U.S. Border Patrol. He is remembered by all except his own agency with his name is inscribed on the:
  • National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial (see this link),
  • Officer Down memorial Page (see this link), and
  • Texas Peace Officer's Memorial (see this link).

​1930
Robert W. Kelsay
Date of Birth:                      January 23, 1899
Entered on Duty:                July 1, 1927
Title:                                   Senior Patrol Inspector
End of Watch:                    June 25, 1930
​Details:
During the night of June 25, 1930, Senior Patrol Inspector Robert W. Kelsay and another officer were watching a river crossing near Laredo, Texas. They were fired upon by liquor smugglers whom they had attempted to stop. During the gunbattle, Senior Patrol Inspector Kelsay was fatally wounded. There is no information available regarding the identity of the smugglers.
 
Survivor benefits - As per this document​, his wife received $58.33 per month.
 
​
1945

Earl F. Fleckinger
Date of Birth:                       July 25, 1917
Entered on Duty:                 September 8, 1941
Title:                                    Patrol Inspector
End of Watch:                     June 23, 1945
Details:
At about 3:00 p.m. on the afternoon of June 23, 1945, Patrol Inspectors Earl F. Fleckinger and Wilbur E. Kinney were patrolling on U.S. Highway No. 98 about 1 1/2 miles east of Calexico, California, when they stopped and searched an automobile driven by a Mexican alien. Search of the automobile disclosed a quantity of liquor in the rear compartment, whereupon the alien was placed under arrest. The officers then started west toward Calexico with the alien. Inspector Fleckinger was driving the government automobile with the alien seated beside him and Inspector Kinney was following immediately behind in the alien's automobile. They had proceeded about one mile when Mr. Kinney heard two shots and observed the government automobile swerve off the road and into an adjacent canal bank.
 
Mr. Kinney stopped the alien's car about 10 or 15 yards ahead of the government car, and while he was attempting to get out of the automobile, the alien fired four shots, which failed to hit him. Inspector Kinney pursued, caught and subdued the alien, and left him in an apparently unconscious condition lying prone in the center of the highway. Mr. Kinney then went to the aid of Inspector Fleckinger, at which time his attention was drawn back to the alien who was observed to be staggering across the international boundary into Mexico.
 
Inspector Fleckinger was taken to a hospital in Calexico by a passerby. He had been shot in the head, which resulted in his death about 6:15 p.m. on the same day.​

Welcome to another This Week in USBP History!  

Another huge week for documents!  Also, we remember the actions that led to three agents receiving Newton-Azrak Awards, one posthumously.  And we remember the anniversaries of seven of our fallen... 

As you may have noticed, I have begun to list the the years of birth and death for each person that I mention by name.  If a person's lifespan is not listed, I either could not find the information or it's listed earlier in the email (I'll only list the years the first time that I mention their name).  I confirm the dates through Ancestry.com and Newspapers.com.  I have a paid access to both sites.

Among the anniversaries of the fallen this week are Theodore L. Newton, Jr. and George F. Azrak who fell due to the same incident in 1967.  Their memories hold a special meaning in USBP history.  Their deaths are credited with:

1. Changing checkpoint staffing.  After their deaths, checkpoints were required to be manned with a minimum of three Agents/Inspectors.
   • I should note that I have been unable to locate any documents that support the statement above although it is well accepted.
2. Initial inspector training.  Before their deaths, USBP new hires would be given a uniform, badge and firearm before attending the Academy.  The new employees would work under a seasoned inspector until attending the Academy at a later date.  After their deaths, Agents/Inspectors were required first attend the Academy before being issued a uniform, badge and firearm and being authorized to perform law enforcement work.
   • I have been unable to locate any documents that support the statement above.  Further, when I spoke to former Chief of the Border Patrol, 1995-1998, Douglas M. Kruhm (photo) about this, he told me that he was issued a uniform, badge and firearm, and worked under a journeymen before attending the Academy.  He was in Class 90 which started in November 1967.  Chief Kruhm is also part of this email list.

Theodore L. Newton, Jr. and George F. Azrak are memorialized with the USBP's highest award being named after them.  Please see the HonorFirst Newton-Azrak Award page for information and links about their deaths, the award, and the recipients.

As I've researched the deaths of Inspector Newton and Inspector Azrak, I was unable to locate any documents that showed that their deaths drove the changes in checkpoint manpower.  The old Border Patrol Handbook, which is not authorized for public dissemination, mandates that checkpoints must be manned by a minimum of three Border Patrol Agents.  I could not locate a document that showed their deaths drove those changes. If anyone has documents that link their deaths with those changes, please send them to me so I can present the best and most accurate USBP history possible.

Anytime, there is an anniversary of two Agents/Inspectors being lost due to the same event, I will provide the following reminder.  A sad fact is that the USBP has lost two Agents/Inspectors due to the same event nine times (18 fallen).  Their names are listed below:

1. Donald Kee and William F. Buckelew in 1954
2. Douglas C. Shute and James M. Carter in 1956
3. Theodore L. Newton, Jr. and George F. Azrak in 1967
4. Friedrich Karl and John S. Blue in 1973
5. Susan L. Rodriguez and Ricardo G. Salinas in 1998
6. Jesus de la Ossa and Thomas J. Williams in 1998
7. Travis W. Attaway and Jeremy M. Wilson in 2004
8. Ramon Nevarez, Jr. and David J. Tourscher in 2007
9. Hector R. Clark and Eduardo Rojas,  Jr. in 2011

Daniel P. Cox and Edgardo Acosta-Feliciano both fell on July 31, 2021.  However, their causes of death were not related.

Have a great week!

Cliff
PS - 

• As an open and continuous invitation to current and former USBP employees, I am always accepting photos to post in the USBP Photo Galleries and in the Upholding Honor First pages.  I sure would appreciate you visiting those pages and sending me anything that you think I could post (just attach them to a reply to this email).
• As always, make sure to explore all of the hyperlinks to documents and pages.​

Esprit de Corps
 
The workplace climate resulting from a combination of organizational pride and employee morale.

• Organizational pride is the positive feeling experienced by employees from being part of a meaningful team that is rich in history, tradition and culture.
• Employee morale is the feeling experienced by employee based in part on their perception of:
  • Being valued by the organization,
  • Fairly compensated, and
  • Performing meaningful work.

 
Esprit de corps is reinforced through the shared goals, mission and values of the organization and its employees.

The definition turns Esprit de Corps into a simple formula and defines parts that comprise organizational pride and employee morale.

Esprit de Corps = Organizational Pride + Employee Morale

Esprit de Corps is the key to a healthy organization and engaged employees.

​Honor First is foundational to the Border Patrol's organizational pride and integral to its Esprit de Corps.

USBP Fallen

As of May 16, 2022, the U.S. Border Patrol has suffered 152* fallen.
Titles:

• 3 Mounted Watchmen fell before 1924 and are carried as Border Patrol fallen
• 48 Border Patrol Inspectors fell between 1924 and 1970
• 100 Border Patrol Agents have fallen since 1970
• 1 Enforcement Analysis Specialist

The names that appear below hold a place of honor. They have made the ultimate sacrifice in an effort to fulfill the oath each officer took to protect and defend the United States of America.

The facts regarding each officer are presented without major editing of the "language of the day" found in the reports detailing the circumstances of each event. This is done to provide the reader an association with historical timeframes.

Employees who died in the line of duty due to being exposed to deadly illnesses will not have the cause of death listed.

*With the exception of two of the fallen immediately below, all names are listed (or in the process of being included) on the official Honor Roll of U.S. Border Patrol Fallen and inscribed on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.  The U.S. Border Patrol should fix these discrepancies. HonorFirst.com honors both of the fallen.

• Joe R. White - He is recognized as officially fallen by the U.S. Border Patrol but his name is not inscribed on the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial.
• John Charles Gigax - He is not recognized as officially fallen by Customs and Border Protection or the U.S. Border Patrol. He is remembered by all except his own agency with his name is inscribed on the:
  • National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial (see this link),
  • Officer Down memorial Page (see this link), and
  • Texas Peace Officer's Memorial (see this link).

​

​1961

Kenneth L. Carl
Date of Birth:                September 5, 1926
Entered on Duty:          August 17, 1953
Title:                              Airplane Pilot
End of Watch:              June 18, 1961
 
Details:
During the hours after midnight on Saturday, June 17, 1961, several jeep teams composed of Patrol Inspectors from Calexico, California, tracked two illegal aliens to an alfalfa field near El Centro, California. Personnel of the jeep patrol encircled the field and prevented possible egress of the aliens. At dawn on June 18, 1961, officers at the scene initiated a radio message to Sector for aerial patrol assistance in spotting the aliens.
 
Pilot Kenneth L. Carl was airborne at approximately 5:30 a.m. in a Piper Supercub.  He immediately initiated low observation passes over the field.  In a short time, one of the illegal aliens raised his head above the level of the alfalfa and was spotted by the pilot and ground units. When the first capture had been accomplished, the Patrol Inspectors ascertained the description, dress, and name of the second alien and radioed that information to Pilot Carl. The pilot was reported to have been flying at reduced air speed and very close to the ground, when the aircraft stalled and struck the ground.  Pilot Carl was pronounced dead prior to being removed from the scene of the accident.  It was later ascertained that his heart had been crushed within the rib cage on impact with the instrument panel.


1967

Theodore L. Newton, Jr.
Date of Birth:                July 30, 1941
Entered on Duty:          April 11, 1966
Title:                             Patrol Inspector
End of Watch:              June 17, 1967
Details:
Patrol Inspector Theodore Lawrence Newton, Jr., and Patrol Inspector (Trainee) George Frederick Azrak were found murdered in a remote deserted mountain cabin on June 19, 1967, following an intensive 48-hour search after they disappeared while on official duty. The men were kidnapped from their post during a traffic check operation near Oak Grove, California, in the early morning hours of June 17, 1967. The officers failed to report in and a hurried search failed to reveal the whereabouts of the men and their two vehicles, a jeep and a Border Patrol sedan. The Service jeep was soon located about a mile from the checkpoint.  On June 19, 1967, a member of a jeep club from Hemet, California, spotted the missing Service sedan. The sedan had been covered with brush fifty feet from the deserted shack, where the posse located the bodies of the missing patrolmen. 
In reconstructing the crimes, it now appears that Patrol Inspectors Newton and Azrak intercepted a vehicle with over 800 pounds of marijuana. While checking this vehicle, the officers were overpowered by four convicted felons, two of whom had been following the load of marijuana in a second vehicle. The officers were then taken to the mountain cabin where they were made to lie prone with their arms extended toward each other. The right wrist of one man was handcuffed to the left wrist of the other, and vice versa. While incapacitated in this manner they were shot and killed.  Autopsies performed revealed Patrol Inspector Newton had been shot once in the head while three shots were fired into Patrol Inspector Azrak, two in the head and one in the chest. Their bodies bore no marks to indicate there had been a struggle.


George F. Azrak
Date of Birth:                June 30, 1945
Entered on Duty:          May 15, 1967
Title:                              Patrol Inspector (Trainee)
End of Watch:               June 17, 1967
Details:
Patrol Inspector Theodore Lawrence Newton, Jr., and Patrol Inspector (Trainee) George Frederick Azrak were found murdered in a remote deserted mountain cabin on June 19, 1967, following an intensive 48-hour search after they disappeared while on official duty. The men were kidnapped from their post during a traffic check operation near Oak Grove, California, in the early morning hours of June 17, 1967. The officers failed to report in and a hurried search failed to reveal the whereabouts of the men and their two vehicles, a jeep and a Border Patrol sedan. The Service jeep was soon located about a mile from the checkpoint.  On June 19, 1967, a member of a jeep club from Hemet, California, spotted the missing Service sedan. The sedan had been covered with brush fifty feet from the deserted shack, where the posse located the bodies of the missing patrolmen. 
In reconstructing the crimes, it now appears that Patrol Inspectors Newton and Azrak intercepted a vehicle with over 800 pounds of marijuana. While checking this vehicle, the officers were overpowered by four convicted felons, two of whom had been following the load of marijuana in a second vehicle. The officers were then taken to the mountain cabin where they were made to lie prone with their arms extended toward each other. The right wrist of one man was handcuffed to the left wrist of the other, and vice versa. While incapacitated in this manner they were shot and killed.  Autopsies performed revealed Patrol Inspector Newton had been shot once in the head while three shots were fired into Patrol Inspector Azrak, two in the head and one in the chest. Their bodies bore no marks to indicate there had been a struggle.


1985

Lester L. Haynie
Date of Birth:                October 13, 1945
Entered on Duty:          October 14, 1975
Title:                              Airplane Pilot Trainee
End of Watch:               June 14, 1985
 
Details:
On the morning of June 14, 1985, Pilot Lester L. Haynie had been working with ground units 12 miles west of Yuma, Arizona. Having apprehended five aliens at Dunes Siding, Pilot Haynie radioed the ground units that he was flying to another siding. There were no witnesses to the crash that occurred at 7:51 a.m., reported at 8:18 a.m. by a Southern Pacific Railroad engineer. The Border Patrol plane was upside down under San Diego Power and Light cables in Imperial County, California, 100 yards north of the Southern Pacific Railroad tracks near Dunes Siding, two miles west of Sidewinder Road. Investigation determined that Pilot Haynie had failed to gain altitude to clear the power lines.


1992

Louis D. Stahl
Date of Birth:                August 19, 1942
Entered on Duty:          October 9, 1973
Title:                             Airplane Pilot
End of Watch:               June 13, 1992
 
Details:
On June 13, 1992, Pilot Louis Stahl was reportedly tracking a group of illegal aliens near the railroad tracks in a mountainous area near Sunland Park, New Mexico. According to witnesses, the Hughes OH6A helicopter, piloted by Agent Stahl, dropped down and snagged a string of power lines, which hung approximately 300 feet above the tracks. The contact with the power lines tilted his aircraft to the right and into another set of utility lines. The helicopter was then thrown downward and it nose-dived into a nearby canyon, slamming upside down on the desert floor in a valley north of Mount Cristo Rey.
 
The cockpit was demolished in the crash, and Agent Stahl was pinned underneath the wreckage. After seeing the crash, the subjects who were observed by the pilot, reportedly raced a half-mile east to go get help at the American Eagle Brick Company, where workers dialed 911. The workers then drove to the site and attempted to lift the smashed aircraft off the pilot. Shortly thereafter, firefighters, police, and Border Patrol Agents arrived at the scene to render aid. The downed pilot was pulled from the wreckage and was pronounced dead. His body was taken to Thomason General Hospital.


1997

Stephen C. Starch
Date of Birth:                January 3, 1972
Entered on Duty:          November 13, 1995
Title:                              Border Patrol Agent
End of Watch:               June 14, 1997
 
Details:
On June 14, 1997, Border Patrol Agent Stephen C. Starch and Senior Patrol Agent Aric Curtis were patrolling the border area south of State Route 94 in the Dulzura, California area. During the midafternoon hours, they found tracks of suspected illegal immigrants.  Fully aware of terrain obstacles and even though their shift was almost over, Agents Starch and Curtis forged ahead, scaling the side of a mountain. Agent Starch separated from Agent Curtis to cover more territory.
 
During the next hour, Agent Curtis tried numerous times to contact Agent Starch by radio but was unsuccessful. He contacted Supervisory Border Patrol Agents and a ground and air search for Agent Starch was started.  Agent Curtis discovered Agent Starch at the base of a cliff. He had sustained severe injuries and was not breathing. Agent Curtis and others administered CPR. A medical helicopter from Mercy Air arrived at the scene, along with a U.S. Coast Guard rescue helicopter. Because of the remoteness and the rough terrain, a higher medical authority could not arrive before dark. After nearly an hour of CPR, the attending Emergency Medical Technician consulted with the flight doctor from Mercy Air by radio and pronounced Agent Starch dead at the scene due to the severity of his injuries.  The next day, investigators determined that Agent Starch had accidentally fallen about 150 feet to this death. Agent Starch was a graduate of Texas Tech University and the Border Patrol Academy, Class 295. At the time of his death, he was assigned to the San Diego Sector, El Cajon Station, sign cut unit.


2020
​
Johan S. Mordan
Date of Birth:                May 26, 1994                              
Entered on Duty:          July 8, 2019
Title:                             Border Patrol Agent 
End of Watch:               June 12, 2020 
 
Details: 
On the night of June 11, 2020, Border Patrol Agent Mordan was patrolling on foot in a remote area in the boot heel of New Mexico in the El Paso Sector.  Agent Mordan’s partner lost radio contact with him.  The Agent located him a short time later and found him unresponsive and without a pulse.   
 
His fellow agents worked to save his life for well over an hour before EMS arrived. Agent Mordan was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. There was no evidence to indicate foul play and his death appears to be the result of heat related illness.
 
Agent Mordan entered on duty on July 8, 2019 as part of the 1127th Session of the Border Patrol Academy. He is survived by his parents and sister.

Esprit de Corps
 
The workplace climate resulting from a combination of organizational pride and employee morale.

• Organizational pride is the positive feeling experienced by employees from being part of a meaningful team that is rich in history, tradition and culture.
• Employee morale is the feeling experienced by employee based in part on their perception of:
  • Being valued by the organization,
  • Fairly compensated, and
  • Performing meaningful work.

 
Esprit de corps is reinforced through the shared goals, mission and values of the organization and its employees.

The definition turns Esprit de Corps into a simple formula and defines parts that comprise organizational pride and employee morale.

Esprit de Corps = Organizational Pride + Employee Morale

Esprit de Corps is the key to a healthy organization and engaged employees.

​Honor First is foundational to the Border Patrol's organizational pride and integral to its Esprit de Corps.

​Esprit de Corps
 
The workplace climate resulting from a combination of organizational pride and employee morale.

• Organizational pride is the positive feeling experienced by employees from being part of a meaningful team that is rich in history, tradition and culture.
• Employee morale is the feeling experienced by employee based in part on their perception of:
  • Being valued by the organization,
  • Fairly compensated, and
  • Performing meaningful work.

 
Esprit de corps is reinforced through the shared goals, mission and values of the organization and its employees.
 
The definition turns Esprit de Corps into a simple formula and defines parts that comprise organizational pride and employee morale.
 
Esprit de Corps = Organizational Pride + Employee Morale
 
Esprit de Corps is the key to a healthy organization and engaged employees.
 
Honor First is foundational to the Border Patrol's organizational pride and integral to its Esprit de Corps.