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Picture

This Week in USBP History, Vol. 74

1/29/2023

2 Comments

 

January 29 - February 4


Intro

Good morning!
 
Welcome to another This Week in USBP History!  

Today's intro is going to be a bit different, because I've turned the emailed newsletter into a weekly blog notification.

I hope the change isn't too drastic, but I believe the benefits far outweigh any negative aspects.

This blog has the same content as the newsletters and more.  Let me spell out a few of the benefits:
  • I can edit and fix my typos after it's posted! Revolutionary!
  • You can explore HonorFirst.com easier since you're already here!
  • There is a place for comments and discussions to occur at the bottom of each blog!
  • The blog functions well in desktop and mobile configurations.
  • You can explore the old blogs in the Archives (on the right side for desktop users and on the bottom for mobile devices).
  • People can easily sign up to receive notifications when I post new blogs.  They're not automatic.  I actually have to create and send the emails.  By the way, I use the old list to send out the blog notifications
  • I still have the "about pages" on Ray, Joe and me, (on the right side for desktops and on the bottom for mobile devices).
  • The green words and phrases are hyperlinks.  Explore them for deeper dives and additional information.
​
Enjoy and leave a comment below to let me know what you think.  I really want to see how well it works and to hear your suggestions.
Social Media Graphic for the
Social Media Graphic for the "This Week in USBP History" Blog
Cover of Joe Banco's book, Honor First Volume IIIClick the photo for information about Joe and how to buy a copy of his books!
This week starts with a 1926 photograph of a snowmobile that was used in Vermont.  I should note, that it is an extreme rarity to discover anything other than documents while researching at the National Archives.  During my visits, I only found a few photographs, a swatch of uniform samples, and early examples of the USBP patch...

​Today, we have early examples of Immigration field hierarchy from 1929, and a 1939 document that ordered the inventory of all badges.  All of the badge reports were collected giving us a roster of employees, their ranks and their assigned locations.  Notice that we have five references from Joe Banco's books (including 4 references from Volume III of the Honor First series).

I've said it before and it's worth repeating...  Joe Banco has researched and authored books of USBP history that are without peer!  Each of his books are meticulously researched with hundreds upon hundreds sources.  Please click the image of his latest book to be taken to the About Joseph Banco page where you'll be given links to purchase his books.

​The are no Newton-Azrak Award action anniversaries for the week.  However, I do highlight Immigration Inspector Willard T. Lamade, who was one of the first two recipients from 1973 and whose date of action is unknown.

​We remember two of our fallen on the anniversaries of their deaths.
​
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 send them to cliff@honorfirst.com).
  • 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.


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.

Documents and events

1926
  • This February 2, 1926, document contains a photograph of an early snowmobile that was in use in Newport, Vermont.
1928
  • In another article posted in the El Paso Herald on January 30, 1928, anonymous sources were spreading disinformation claiming that “there was friction and dissatisfaction among the members of the United States Immigration Border Patrol at El Paso, Texas.”  This prompted the 44 Border Patrol Inspectors of the El Paso Sub-District to send multiple memoranda with their names to Headquarters to “go on the record and state, that, THERE IS NO FRICTION OR DISSATISFACTION AMONG US AND OUR MORALE IS HIGH.”​
    • From - HONOR FIRST:  The Story of the United States Border Patrol - Volume I by Joseph Banco
    1929
    • On February 4, 1929, Assistant Superintendent L. Antonio Bonazzi (1890-1950) of the Montreal District would write a memo that is full of interesting information. 
      • The district was HQ’s in Canada.
      • As a reminder, with the passage of General Order 61 in 1926, an Assistant Superintendent was the highest-ranking uniformed position in the Border Patrol. See a page describing the insignia here.
      • The first person rated in the document is Willard F. Kelly (1903-1969) who would be Chief of the Border Patrol 1933-1943.  Kelly would become the first Chief to have first been a Border Patrol Inspector.  Here is his June 21, 1924, Oath of Office. 
      • As a clear demonstration of Immigration Service hierarchy, an employee would be promoted from a Border Patrol Inspector to an Immigrant Inspector.
    1939
    • On January 31, 1939, in response to a request from the Central Office (HQ) to send an inventory of all badges and cap insignia, two districts completed their reports; the Seattle District and the St. Paul District.  The San Antonio District would complete their report on February 3rd.
      • I find it very interesting to see that sub-districts (sectors) only contained 3 official positions: Chief Patrol Inspector (CPI), Senior Patrol Inspector (SPI) and Border Patrol Inspector (BPI).  Only one position between a CPI and a BPI.  Fast-forward to today, how many positions are there between a Chief Patrol Agent and a Border Patrol Agent?
    1941
    • This February 1, 1941, memorandum discusses constructing a new HQ building in El Paso, replacing Camp Chigas.  The new El Paso HQ would be constructed in the mid-1950’s.  However, with the change in the border with the Chamizal Treaty construction, that building is now located in Mexico.
    1978
    • When Commissioner Leonel Castillo (Tio Leo) (1939-2013) directed the formation of a National Anti-Smuggling Project on February 1, 1978, the Border Patrol already had a force of 67 Border Patrol Agents conducting anti-smuggling operations at the Sector level. While in comparison, the Inspections side of the INS house had 25 Criminal Investigators conducting anti-smuggling operations.
      • ​From - HONOR FIRST: The Story of the United States Border Patrol - Volume Three 1975-1999​ by Joseph Banco​
    1989
    • On February 2, 1989, of the original “Alabama 500” that began their journey sixteen weeks earlier, 363 Border Patrol trainees graduated with the 226 Session of the Border Patrol Academy at Fort McClellan, Alabama. The attrition rate was high due to resignations, injuries and disciplinary terminations.
      • From - HONOR FIRST: The Story of the United States Border Patrol - Volume Three 1975-1999​ by Joseph Banco​
    1994
    • ...the U.S. Border Patrol Museum Board of Trustees including Don Coppock (1910-2011), Roger Brandemuehl and Henry McCormack signed a contract with Westar Group for the construction of the 10,000 square foot facility... The construction was completed and a dedication ceremony was held on February 3, 1994. Over 1,000 people attended the ceremony including INS Deputy Commissioner Chris Sales, Chief, U.S. Border Patrol, Michael Williams, several of his predecessors, and state and congressional representatives.
      • ​From - HONOR FIRST: The Story of the United States Border Patrol - Volume Three 1975-1999​ by Joseph Banco​
    1995
    • INS Commissioner Doris Meissner would kick off Operation Safeguard on February 3, 1995, in Nogales.
      • From - HONOR FIRST: The Story of the United States Border Patrol - Volume Three 1975-1999​ by Joseph Banco​
    1996
    • ...the single most significant change closing the era of the Old Patrol occurred on February 2, 1996, with the graduation of Class 293. Border Patrol Academy Class 293 would become the last class to be issued a revolver, affectionately known as the wheel gun.
      • From - HONOR FIRST: The Story of the United States Border Patrol - Volume Three 1975-1999​ by Joseph Banco​

    Newton-Azrak Award Action Anniversaries

    Follow this link to see examples of USBP employees Upholding Honor First.
    • An organization’s values are codified in its awards system. Recognizing the achievements, service and heroism of employees is important.  It is critical for those in positions of leadership to value the workforce.  Awards are a fundamental manner for leaders to demonstrate appreciation to the workforce for upholding the organizational values. – U.S. Border Patrol Honorary Awards
    The USBP Newton-Azrak Award Scroll
    The USBP Newton-Azrak Award Scroll
    There are no Newton-Azrak Award action anniversaries for this week.  Therefore, I will highlight Immigration Inspector Willard T. Lamade, whose date of action is unknown.

    1973

    Willard T. Lamade

    (1924-1997)
    Immigration Inspector
    San Ysidro, California
    Inspector Willard T. Lamade was recognized for his heroic action in assisting Federal agents in capturing a dealer in large amounts of narcotics and alien smuggling, at great risk to himself.

    U.S. Border Patrol Fallen

    U.S. Border Patrol Badge with a Mourning BandU.S. Border Patrol Badge with a Mourning Band
    As of December 7, 2022, the U.S. Border Patrol has suffered 153* fallen.
    Titles:
    • 3 Mounted Watchmen fell before 1924 and are carried as Border Patrol fallen
    • 48 Border Patrol Inspectors fell between 1924 and 1970
    • 101 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.
     
    I will note that Border Patrol Agent John Charles Gigax is not recognized as officially fallen by Customs and Border Protection or the U.S. Border Patrol. The Border Patrol Foundation and the Border Patrol Museum also fail to recognize him. He is remembered by all except organizations containing "Border Patrol" in their title. He is remembered by 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).
     
    The U.S. Border Patrol, the Border Patrol Foundation, and the Border Patrol Museum should fix their oversight. 
     
    HonorFirst.com remembers and lists Agent Gigax among the fallen.

    Fallen Border Patrol Agent John Charles Gigax's tombstone. Fallen Border Patrol Agent Jason C. Panides' tombstone in is the background.
    Fallen Border Patrol Agent John Charles Gigax's tombstone. Fallen Border Patrol Agent Jason C. Panides' tombstone in is the background.
    1974

    Edwin C. Dennis
    Date of Birth:                    March 3, 1912
    Entered on Duty:             April 17, 1941
    Title:                                     Senior Patrol Agent
    End of Watch:                   February 4, 1974
     
    Details:
    At 7:10 p.m. on February 4, 1974, Senior Patrol Agent Edwin C. Dennis was in a van driven by Border Patrol Agent Richard Marroguin with one alien in custody. They were enroute from Ysleta to El Paso, Texas, on the border highway. They were traveling without lights when the vehicle struck some rocks that had been left by a construction crew. The vehicle turned over and Dennis was thrown out of the van and it rolled over him, crushing the upper part of his body. The other occupants in the vehicle were shaken up but not seriously injured.

    ​Gravesite

    ​
    2019


    Donna M. Doss

    Date of Birth                        November 6, 1969
    Entered on Duty:                November 3, 2003
    Title:                                        Border Patrol Resident Agent
    End of Watch:                      February 2, 2019
     
    Details:
    On February 2, 2019, Border Patrol Agent Donna M. Doss responded to a request for assistance from a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper regarding a suspected illegal alien.  After affecting the arrest of the subject at mile marker 276 on Interstate 20 near Tye, Texas, Agent Doss was struck by a passing vehicle.  She succumbed to her injuries at the scene.
     
    Agent Doss entered on duty with the U.S. Border Patrol on November 3, 2003, graduated as a member of the 584th session of the Border Patrol Academy, and was subsequently assigned to the Brackettville Station in Del Rio Sector.  On March 6, 2017, Agent Doss transferred to Abilene, Texas, as a Resident Agent responsible for enforcement operations in eight Texas counties.  Agent Doss served with the U.S. Border Patrol for more than 15 years.

    ​Cremated

    Honor First Pages

    • USBP Fallen
    • HonorFirst Photo Galleries
    • Upholding Honor First
    • USBP Honorary Awards​
    • USBP History
    • Honor First and Esprit de Corps
    • USBP Authorized Devices
    • Border Patrol Stories

    2 Comments
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      Clifford Gill

      Blog author, retired U.S. Border Patrol Assistant Chief and, current U.S. Border Patrol employee advocate.

      ​Read more about Cliff here.


      Ray Harris

      Site founder and owner, former Senior Patrol Agent and retired Immigration Special Agent.

      ​Read more about Ray here.


      Joseph Banco

      U.S. Border Patrol historian and retired Deputy Chief Patrol Agent.

      ​Read more about Joe here.


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