August 28 - September 3 Personal coin for Chief of the Border Patrol Raul Ortiz Good morning! Welcome to another This Week in USBP History! Let me start this update with a brief story... On Friday, August 26, 2022, I happened to be in Washington DC. I had to go to a building called the National Place. It's across the street from the Ronald Reagan Building (RRB) where USBP HQ is located. The RRB has a parking garage that is convenient to use. As I finished parking my truck in the RRB, I checked my phone and saw that I had an email from Chief of the Border Patrol Raul Ortiz. In the email he asked me to give him a call about the "...awards issue I had raised before I retired". He was referencing nominations for past events that he had rejected, disapproving 370 employees from receiving USBP Honorary Awards. Of course, I immediately called him, let him know I was in the RRB and suggested I come to his office if he had the time. I think he may have been just as surprised that I was in the RRB as I was to receive his email. Five minutes later, I was in his office! Chief Ortiz began by telling me that he had watched a recent Medal of Honor presentation where several Vietnam veterans were recognized decades after their qualifying actions. He saw how the presentation emotionally touched both the recipients and everyone witnessing it. He told me that it reminded him of the award nominations that he had disapproved in 2020 and he realized that he had made a mistake. Chief Ortiz said that he wanted to contact me and personally let me know that he had reconsidered his past decision. That he had directed that all of the disapproved nominations be revived to go through the process to receive recognition. He said that there were too many to do at once. Therefore, they would be considered and presented in phases. I spent about 20-25 minutes in his office and left with one of his personal coins. I commend him for having the strength to change his decision, and for providing an example of valuing the workforce that should be emulated in the sectors. Borrowing from my time in the U.S. Navy - Bravo Zulu Chief Ortiz! Moving along, you know, I think every week is a huge week in USBP history. This week is no different! There are documents from 1918 that show the authorized and actual strength of the Mounted Watchmen. There's a 1924 document where the Commissioner-General recommended changing the title of Patrol Inspectors to Junior Immigrant Inspectors. From Joe Banco's HONOR FIRST: The Story of the United States Border Patrol - Volume II, we have information about the "Boatlift" in 1953, USBP canines being used in 1955, and the termination of the Border Patrol Air Transport Operation in 1972. (Thank you Joe!). We celebrate the heroism of four Newton-Azrak Award recipients on the anniversaries of their actions. We also remember two of our fallen on the anniversaries of their deaths. Have a great week! Cliff PS -
Esprit de Corps The workplace climate resulting from a combination of organizational pride and employee morale.
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/Events 1918
 Newton-Azrak Award Action Anniversaries Follow this link to see examples of USBP employees Upholding Honor First.
2002 Jered Bacon Border Patrol Agent Tucson Sector Robert M. Lawler Border Patrol Agent Tucson Sector On August 31, 2001, at about 1:15 a.m., while patrolling the border, Border Patrol Agents Robert M. Lawler, Jered Bacon, and Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Ed Tracy noticed an apartment building fire at 1850 Patagonia Highway near Nogales, Arizona. The agents immediately called for the Nogales Fire Department. The fire spread so quickly that the building was engulfed in flames without warning to the occupants. Realizing that the Nogales Fire Department would not arrive on time, and being the only individuals in the area, the agents took immediate action. Without regard for their own safety, the agents risked their lives to evacuate the building. Most of the occupants were sleeping in their beds at the time of the fire. By the time the Nogales Fire Department and the Nogales Police Department arrived, the agents had extracted all 22 occupants from the building, which by then was totally engulfed in flames. 2022 Ruben Gonzalez - photo, photo 2, award certificate, award set Border Patrol Agent San Diego, CA On September 1, 2021, at approximately 1:30 PM, beyond the call of duty, Border Patrol Agents Ruben Gonzalez and Christian Llamas entered a sewage contaminated area of the Pacific Ocean at great personal risk to save a swimmer facing certain death by drowning. After swimming approximately 50 yards through battering waves, BPA's Gonzalez and Llamas reached the exhausted swimmer and pulled him to shore, saving his life. BPA's Gonzalez's and Llamas' actions brought great credit upon themselves and the United States Border Patrol. Christian Llamas - photo, award set Border Patrol Agent San Diego, CA On September 1, 2021, at approximately 1:30 PM, beyond the call of duty, Border Patrol Agents Ruben Gonzalez and Christian Llamas entered a sewage contaminated area of the Pacific Ocean at great personal risk to save a swimmer facing certain death by drowning. After swimming approximately 50 yards through battering waves, BPA's Gonzalez and Llamas reached the exhausted swimmer and pulled him to shore, saving his life. BPA's Gonzalez's and Llamas' actions brought great credit upon themselves and the United States Border Patrol. USBP Fallen As of May 16, 2022, the U.S. Border Patrol has suffered 152* fallen. Titles:
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.
1950
Michael T. Box Date of Birth: August 4, 1901 Entered on Duty: November 25, 1926 Title: Airplane Pilot End of Watch: August 29, 1950 Details: Just after dawn on August 29, 1950, Airplane Pilot Michael T. Box was patrolling by plane in the irrigated farm area about 20 miles north of El Paso, Texas, searching for aliens who had walked through the desert at night and were attempting to get away to the north through the upper Rio Grande Valley. Pilot Box was working with two ground crews who were in radio-equipped jeeps. The operation had netted several aliens and others were being sought when the engine of the aircraft stopped and the plane crashed. It burst into flames; however, fellow officers were able to remove Pilot Box from the aircraft within minutes after the crash occurred. Artificial respiration was commenced immediately and was continued until Pilot Box was pronounced dead by a doctor who lived nearby. Investigation into the accident revealed that the motor of the aircraft ceased apparently due to difficulty in the fuel system. Pilot Box maintained control of the plane as it lost altitude and maneuvered the aircraft into position to make an emergency landing in an irrigation ditch. The aircraft struck a submerged object on the canal bottom upon impact. Pilot Box's seat strap was broken and he was thrown with terrific force into the wheel and instrument panel. He died instantly as his chest and skull were crushed, his jawbone was broken in two places, and both shoulders were broken. Gravesite 2021 Chad E. McBroom Entered on Duty: February 7, 1997 Title: Border Patrol Agent End of Watch: August 29, 2021 Details: Agent McBroom entered on duty on February 7, 1997, as part of the 329th Session of the Border Patrol Academy. At the time of his passing, he was assigned to the Tucson Sector Special Operations Detachment in Arizona. The circumstances of his passing were reviewed by an executive panel and the CBP Commissioner who determined that this death occurred in the line of duty. He is survived by his wife Magaly; children: Jackielynn, Kaya, and Reagan; and parents: Don and Sherry. Gravesite
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August 21 - August 27Good morning! Welcome to another This Week in USBP History! Every Sunday, I try highlight something that resonates with me and that I hope does with you too. This week I was inspired by an Instagram post from the Laredo Sector where approximately twenty-five employees received a USBP Honorary Award. This is a subject of which I am very passionate. People who know me might caution you about asking me anything about employee recognition, knowing I never give the short answer on the subject! So, trying to be interesting and informative, I will keep this highlight as brief as I am able. History of the USBP Honorary Awards On August 8, 2002, the Border Patrol implemented its awards/medals program with the presentation of the first two medals.
Assistant Chief William V. Beaumet, was originally assigned the awards/medals program and designed the medals and ribbons in collaboration with the U.S. Army’s Institute of Heraldry. When Chief Beaumet transferred to the Border Patrol Academy as the Deputy Chief Patrol Agent, the awards/medals program was assigned to Assistant Chief Randy Gallegos. Assistant Chief Gallegos continued with the procurement of the first medals. In June of 2002, the program was again reassigned, this time to Assistant Chief Dan Harris. Although many awards were created and proposed, most were not implemented. By 2004, the Chief’s Commendation Medal fell into disuse after only having been awarded once leaving only the Newton-Azrak Award and Purple Cross medal sets were presented to employees. In 2008, the USBP de-authorized the the wearing of the USBP 75th Anniversary Award. In 2018, I was an Assistant Chief at HQ and was able to built on the foundation that began with Chief Beaumet and drafted the policy for the USBP Honorary Awards Program. Under the program, the USBP 75th Anniversary Award was reauthorized for wear and two of the earlier awards designed by the U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry were repurposed for use. Today Today, USBP Honorary Awards are still presented but in numbers far less than intended and far less than necessary to have a meaningful impact for the workforce. In Chief Provost's cover memo introducing the USBP Honorary Awards policy, she indicated the target amount of recipients per year by stating, "Headquarters will provide sectors with sufficient [USBP Achievement] awards sets to recognize approximately 10% of the workforce per year." By the time I had retired in 2020, all sectors had received enough USBP Achievement Award medal sets to recognize nearly 25% of their workforce. Even with such an abundance of awards, sectors such as El Centro, Ramey, Tucson and the Special Operations Group hadn't recognized even 1% of their workforce with the awards that were readily available in their storage closets. I am told that Chief Patrol Agents and other supervisory personnel have attempted to maintain the prestige of the award but their efforts have been contrary to guidance and criteria, and to the detriment of the workforce. Take a look at the USBP Achievement Award's criteria:
As a good rule of thumb, Chief Patrol Agents and other supervisory personnel contemplating recognizing their employees should simply follow the guidance and perhaps ask themselves, "Is a coffee mug appropriate for this achievement or act of heroism?" If the answer is "no", then the employee should receive, at a minimum, a USBP Achievement Medal. Stated in another way, USBP Achievement Medals are not Medals of Honor. They are the lowest formal recognition that the USBP may present for acts of heroism, valor, achievement and service. They were designed to be given generously to recognize 10% of the workforce per year. They are awarded to both individuals and as group awards (the USBP does not have unit awards). Ending on a positive note, I have been told that Chief of the Border Patrol Raul Ortiz has reconsidered his position where he blocked recognitions for 370 USBP employees. Assuming that is true, I commend him for having the strength to change his decision, and for providing an example of valuing the workforce that should be emulated in the sectors. As a final thought, Chief Beaumet never received recognition for his efforts that have benefited so many. I sure would like to see his name added to the list of 370 that I hope are pending recognition. I think his actions easily warrant a USBP Commendation Medal. This week's documents start in 1921 when the Departments of Agriculture and Treasury did not concur with a plan to consolidate all federal law enforcement activities under a single administrator. We have Jacksonville District shooting scores from 1931, Nogales fencing request in 1935, and 1942 is brought to us compliments of Joe Banco. Finally, the Border Patrol Choir Practice forum turns 24-years old! There are no known Newton-Azrak Award anniversaries this week. However, I do highlight two recipients whose date of action is unknown. Have a great week! Cliff PS -
Esprit de Corps The workplace climate resulting from a combination of organizational pride and employee morale.
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/Events 1921
Newton-Azrak Award Action Anniversaries Follow this link to see examples of USBP employees Upholding Honor First.
There are no know Newton-Azrak Award action anniversaries for this week. However, there are several actions that do not have a specific date. This week, I will highlight two from 1987. 1987 Lee R. Prejean Criminal Investigator Seattle, Washington Criminal Investigator Lee R. Prejean conducted undercover activities as part of Operation Castoron, which commenced as a marriage fraud investigation and grew into a visa fraud, smuggling, gunrunning, narcotics and terrorist investigation. Through his devoted and selfless efforts, he was able to infiltrate the large-scale conspiracy organization posing as a corrupt immigration officer. During the period of his undercover activities, he held hundreds of consensually monitored conversations, both telephonic and in person, with criminal elements involved in the investigation. He received pay-offs for alleged misconduct on his part, and was able to elicit the support and fidelity of the criminal principals in the case to such an extent that much valuable information was supplied to him willingly by these individuals which, in effect, led to the successful conclusion of this investigation. His involvement was so thorough that he placed a separate telephone and answering machine in his home in order that he might be available to the principals at any time. Mr. Prejean demonstrated unusual courage and competence while in the line of duty and under very trying circumstances. George E. Evancheck - award statuette, notification letter Border Patrol Agent Del Rio, Texas No description available. USBP Fallen
As of May 16, 2022, the U.S. Border Patrol has suffered 152* fallen. Titles:
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.
There are no line-of-duty death anniversaries this week. August 14 - August 20Good morning! Welcome to another This Week in USBP History! Before jumping into the focus of today's introduction, let me highlight that the U.S. Border Patrol has recently presented the Newton-Azrak Award to two agents, recognizing them for performing beyond the call of duty while facing grave danger:
Please see the HonorFirst Newton-Azrak Award Page for more information about the award and its recipients. Last week was the 80th anniversary of the U.S. Border Patrol patch. We know that because the date (August 5, 1942) is on the original blueprint (follow this link for a large photo). But, very few people know that the only two copies of the blueprint known to exist (they are actually lithographs) were almost thrown away to be lost forever! Let me briefly share how they were saved, with a special thanks to Joe Banco for passing the story to me (Hopefully, Joe puts a more detailed story in Volume III). In 2003, with the Immigration and Naturalization Service being dissolved and creation of DHS and CBP, the Border Patrol was relocating its HQ and HQ personnel from the Chester Arthur Building to the Ronald Reagan Building (both in Washington DC). As part of the move, the USBP HQ staff (only about 20 or so), were discarding and throwing away many old and dated items. Thankfully, one of the staff, Dan Harris Jr., had a keen eye and saved two lithographs of the blueprint for the USBP patch! If it were not for Dan, an irreplaceable portion of USBP history would have been lost forever! The Patrol owes him an immeasurable debt of gratitude! Dan will forever be remembered in USBP history. His twenty-five year career in the Patrol was marked with success after success, and achievement after achievement. He was instrumental in laying the foundation of what would evolve to be the USBP Honorary Awards and the creation USBP Honor Guard. He served in multiple sectors and eventually retired as the Chief Patrol Agent of the U.S. Border Patrol Academy. When Dan took command of the Academy after having been the Chief Patrol Agent of Blaine Sector, Commissioner Kerlikowske said this about him: Before I praise Chief Harris’ accomplishments, I want to share a bit of his personal family background with you. Chief Harris is a sixth-generation law enforcement officer. Think about that for a minute – that’s well more than a century of law enforcement “DNA” – so it’s probably an understatement to say he was born into this career path. Chief Harris is also the 14th officer in his family – and was named in honor of his great-grandfather who was shot and killed in the line of duty as a Texas Ranger (Dan Lafayette McDuffie, NLEOM, ODMP, 1883-1931). He’s also a teacher and a mentor; in fact, before he joined the U.S. Border Patrol, he was a San Angelo Texas police officer and Instructor for the South Plains College Criminal Justice Education Center. Chief Harris has risen through the ranks with the U.S. Border Patrol starting with Class 286 in 1995. From his first duty assignment at the El Paso Station as a trainee to his last assignment as Chief Patrol Agent in Blaine, Washington, Chief Harris has dedicated his career and life to the betterment of our agency and profession. He’s worked tirelessly on the evolution and development of the U.S. Border Patrol’s Critical Incident Response Programs evolving them into one of the best programs in the nation. He also served on the transition team that helped stand up the Department of Homeland Security in 2003. In short, Chief Harris is a true leader in integration, teamwork, community engagement, and partnership. Dan was a recipient of numerous awards and recognitions throughout his USBP career including the Newton-Azrak Award and the USBP 75th Anniversary Medal. Not stopping after retiring from the Border Patrol, Dan continues to serve the public as the Stephenville Chief of Police. I've also updated the entry for the USBP patch in the HonorFirst History Page with Dan's contribution (see below). The official design of the patch was finalized August 5, 1942. The earliest evidence of the patch on a Border Patrol uniform is a photograph from 1944. See this picture* and this document. 1938 Uniform Sketches As research was being conducted, a series of unsigned and undated sketches were discovered surrounded by documents from 1938. These sketches are believed to be part of discussions that, in part, led to the creation of the U.S. Border Patrol patch. On page 5 of this document is a sketch shaped like the United States with the words "Border Patrol". The background color is blue and the lettering is silver. Following the pattern of the time, there may have been discussions of gold lettering for Chief Patrol Inspectors and above. Although the original concept was to have a patch that was shaped like the United States, the manufacture of such a complex shape was cost prohibitive at the time. Therefore, it is believed that the patch shape was changed to a less expensive circle and the outline of the United States sewn onto it. * A special thanks to the U.S. Border Patrol Academy for providing the 1944 photograph. It should also be noted that in 2003, with the Immigration and Naturalization Service being dissolved and creation of DHS and CBP, the Border Patrol was relocating its HQ and HQ personnel from the Chester Arthur Building to the Ronald Reagan Building (both in Washington DC). As part of the move, the USBP HQ staff (only about 20 or so), were discarding and throwing away many old and dated items. Thankfully, one of the staff, Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Dan Harris Jr., had a keen eye and saved two lithographs of the blueprint for the USBP patch! If it were not for Dan, an irreplaceable portion of USBP history would have been lost forever! The Patrol owes him an immeasurable debt of gratitude! I know the phrase might be cliché, but what a huge week in USBP history! This week has mentions of suspected German activity near the border in 1918, and furloughed Mounted Watchmen in 1919. There's a question of the authority of Patrol Inspectors in 1924 and the beginnings of the death of the khaki uniforms in 1953. And, I picked up the torch from Joe Banco with the trademark of "Honor First". We also celebrate the Newton-Azrak Award action anniversaries of nine agents, including two of which who suffered serious gunshot wounds. Finally, we remember two of our fallen on the anniversaries of their deaths, including Lawrence B. Pierce whose loss would be recognized as line-of-duty over two decades after he fell. Have a great week! Cliff PS -
Esprit de Corps The workplace climate resulting from a combination of organizational pride and employee morale.
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/Events 1918
Newton-Azrak Award Action Anniversaries Follow this link to see examples of USBP employees Upholding Honor First.
1983 Paul Conover Border Patrol Agent Marfa Sector Stanley U. Spencer Senior Patrol Agent Marfa Sector Border Patrol Agent Paul Conover and Senior Patrol Agent Stanley U. Spencer were recognized for their exceptional devotion to duty in the face of grave danger, while pursuing a murder suspect attempting entry from Mexico. On August 17, 1982, Senior Patrol Agent Conover and Senior Patrol Agent Stanley Spencer spotted two individuals crossing the river by boat, and attempted to approach the subjects upon land. Shots were fired by one of the subjects, wounding Agent Conover. Spencer returned the fire and then administered first aid to his partner. Conover was hospitalized for eight weeks while recovering from wounds received in the incident. 1997 Benjamin M. Batchelder Border Patrol Agent Swanton Sector Stephen A. Brooks Border Patrol Agent Swanton Sector Martin G. Hewson Border Patrol Agent Swanton Sector Border Patrol Agent Benjamin M. Batchelder, Border Patrol Agent Stephen A. Brooks, and Border Patrol Agent Martin G. Hewson were recognized for their heroic actions in assisting a wounded agent during a gun battle with an armed murder suspect that occurred on August 19, 1997. John C. Pfeifer - photo Patrol Agent In Charge Swanton Sector Patrol Agent In Charge Pfeifer was recognized for his heroic actions taken and critical wounds sustained while engaged in a gun battle with an armed murder suspect on August 19, 1997. 2006 Ricardo J. Hernandez Border Patrol Agent El Paso Sector Felix Morales III Border Patrol Agent El Paso Sector Border Patrol Agent Ricardo J. Hernandez and Border Patrol Agent Felix Morales were recognized for demonstrating extraordinary courage and valor during the performance of duty on August 15, 2006. Without regard for their own personal safety, Agents Ricardo J. Hernandez and Felix Morales’ quick response to save a father and his minor children from drowning. While assigned to the Checkpoint located on New Mexico Highway 195, the agents were approached by a frantic woman who informed them that water had trapped her husband and two children in their submerged SUV. Agents Hernandez and Morales jumped into the turbulent water and made their way to the vehicle. Agent Morales was swept down the river while holding one of the children. He eventually managed to cling to some brush and hand the child to another person at the scene. Agent Hernandez was able to rescue the other child and father. The father sustained a leg injury after being struck by the rolling SUV, and the children were treated for exposure and shock. 2007 Gary L. Ortega Jr. Border Patrol Agent El Centro Sector Border Patrol Agent Gary L. Ortega Jr. was recognized for his selfless dedication to duty to ensure the survival of injured and helpless people. On August 18, 2007, on his return to the Indio Border Patrol Station at the conclusion of his shift at the checkpoint on Highway 86 near Westmoreland, California, Agent Ortega encountered a station wagon that had been involved in a single vehicle accident and had rolled into the median and caught on fire. As he approached the vehicle, one injured woman was near the vehicle on her hands and knees, and he could see two children and an elderly man in the rear seat of the vehicle. Agent Ortega assisted the injured woman away from the burning car and then attempt to gain entry through the doors that were jammed shut. He extricated the two children through the rear hatch and returned to help the elderly man who was trapped inside. As the flames spread from the engine compartment to the passenger compartment, Agent Ortega unsuccessfully attempted to break out the windows. Disregarding his own personal safety and without hesitation, he re-entered the rear of the vehicle, and used his collapsible steel baton to pry the seat enough to allow him to pull the elderly man to safety as the entire vehicle had become engulfed in flames. USBP Fallen As of May 16, 2022, the U.S. Border Patrol has suffered 152* fallen. Titles:
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.
1995
Lawrence B. Pierce Date of Birth September 2, 1946 Entered on Duty: June 23, 1980 Title: Supervisory Border Patrol Agent End of Watch: August 17, 1995 Details: On August 17, 1995, while off-duty in Chula Vista, California, Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Lawrence B. Pierce witnessed an altercation where an innocent man was stabbed to death. Agent Pierce chased down the killer, identified himself as a law enforcement officer, and while attempting to disarm the killer he suffered wounds that resulted in his tragic death. The killer was apprehended, convicted of murder, and was sentenced to 39 years to life in prison. Agent Pierce entered on duty with the U.S. Border Patrol on June 23, 1980, as a member of the 137th session of the Border Patrol Academy, and was assigned to the Campo Station in the San Diego Sector. Agent Pierce was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and had served with the United States Border Patrol for over 15 years. Gravesite 2021 Ricardo Zarate Entered on Duty: February 12, 2009 Title: Border Patrol Agent End of Watch: August 16, 2021 Details: Agent Zarate entered on duty on February 12, 2009, as part of the 922nd Session of the Border Patrol Academy. At the time of his passing, he was assigned to the McAllen Station in the Rio Grande Valley Sector in Texas. The circumstances of his passing were reviewed by an executive panel and the CBP Commissioner who determined that this death occurred in the line of duty. He is survived by his wife: Crystal; children: Payton and Ezekiel; parents : Benito and Diana; and brothers: Benito Jr., Isaac, and Rodolfo. Gravesite August 7 - August 13Good morning! Welcome to another This Week in USBP History! Today we start with a focus on leadership. !!! Don't Be The A$$hole !!! That's great leadership advice from Simon Sinek. He has a two-minute video on the subject of "performance and trust" that describes his understanding of how U.S. Navy SEALs make selections for leadership positions in SEAL Team Six. Take a couple of minutes and watch the video here. It will be time well spent. Plus, it will put that shocking opening sentence into context. Leadership is about people. It's about relationships. As Simon says, "Leadership isn't about being in charge. It's about taking care of those in your charge." If a person in a position of leadership takes care of those in their charge, then employees and the organization can be expected to do well, having high levels of Esprit de Corps. Conversely, if an organization and its employees are suffering, having low levels of Esprit de Corps, then it safely can be assumed that those in positions of leadership are not taking care of those in their charge. Driving the point home, a reader of This Week in USBP History, who happens to be a retired agent and bona fide Border Patrol hero, shared a true USBP story from years ago... See below, (I edited it for brevity and to conceal identities): At the beginning of the shift, a supervisor berated an agent in front of twenty of the agent's peers, for a perceived misstep or minor wrongdoing. This public scene lasted for several minutes until the agent asked that the discussion continue in private, but the supervisor would not stop. Reaching his limit, the agent told the supervisor, "If you can't be polite, then <expletive>“, and agent left to work his assigned area. Subsequently, the supervisor wrote-up the agent and recommended a 3-day suspension. When the CPA received the paperwork, it was the supervisor who received the 3-day suspension. The CPA let it be known that if frivolous or otherwise unfair charges were submitted, that the initiator would receive the very same recommended punishment that they had submitted. The lesson to be learned from today's focus is - Don't be the a$$hole and protect your workforce from them! Simon has many other videos and concepts that I think are great. If you wish, visit his YouTube channel here. This is another great week in USBP history. There's a gunfight in 1929 and rough duty uniforms being authorized in 1934. We have Border Patrol Inspectors being the first Air Marshals in 1961 and recommendations to hold gains from Operation Wetback in 1954. We also celebrate seven Newton-Azrak Award action anniversaries, two of which recognized the heroism of Immigration Officers during the U.S. Embassy bombing in Nairobi in 1998. Remember, of the 185 recipients of the Newton-Azrak Award, 26 were not Border Patrol Agents. Finally, we remember Border Patrol Agent Manuel A. Alvarez on the anniversary of his death. Have a great week! Cliff PS -
Esprit de Corps The workplace climate resulting from a combination of organizational pride and employee morale.
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/Events 1919
I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Joe Banco for allowing me to reference his books in This Week in USBP History. Please consider purchasing his books for a deep dive into USBP History. Newton-Azrak Award Action Anniversaries Follow this link to see examples of USBP employees Upholding Honor First.
1983 Robert B. LaBelle Border Patrol Agent Swanton Sector Peter R. Moran Border Patrol Agent Swanton Sector Donald A. Peck Patrol Agent in Charge, Swanton Station Swanton Sector Border Patrol Agent Robert B. LaBelle was recognized for his exceptional courage in rescuing two Canadian residents whose boats had capsized in the midst of one of the most violent summer storms ever experienced in the Lake Champlain region. On August 8, 1983, despite the extremely hazardous and life threatening weather conditions, he, along with Border Patrol Agents Peter Moran and Donald Peck, made numerous attempts before successfully rescuing the victims. 1996 Arthur G. Lopez Border Patrol Agent Tucson Sector On August 10, 1995, Border Patrol Agent Arthur G. Lopez displayed unusual courage during an incident in which he was critically wounded by gunfire along the U.S./Mexico international boundary. At approximately 2:00 pm, Agent Lopez proceeded to an area along the border commonly known as Smuggler’s Gulch. He was accompanied by BPA (T) Ronal Wehr and was assigned routine linewatch and patrol duties. Agents Lopez and Wehr observed activity on the Mexican side of the international boundary fence that appeared to be Mexican police chasing individuals on foot. The Smuggler’s Gulch area is a notoriously known canyon leading into the U.S. from Mexico that empties near the residential and business areas of Nogales, Arizona. It is frequently used by organized criminal groups for the purpose of smuggling undocumented foreign nationals, narcotics, and other contraband. It is also a favorite lair for border bandits who prey on their victims (other illegal aliens) as they cross from Mexico into the U.S. As Agents Lopez and Wehr arrived at a high point on the U.S. side of the border that overlooks Smuggler’s Gulch, they observed armed, uniformed individuals chasing and shooting at other individuals. The agents saw these uniformed individuals capture two, and then push and kick one of the people they were chasing. Upon discovering that they were being observed by Agents Lopez and Wehr, at least one of the individuals, later identified as Mexican police officers, began shooting at Agents Lopez and Wehr. BPA Lopez was critically wounded while attempting to run toward the steel border fence for cover. Agent Lopez fell to the ground but was able to crawl to the fence. He continued to give clear verbal instruction to BPA (T) Ronald Wehr the entire time. After ensuring the safety of his trainee partner and himself, Agent Lopez proceeded to call for assistance via his hand-held radio. He informed other units that he had been shot and that he was continuing to receive gunfire from the Mexican police. He verbally directed the responding units to his location, advising them when it was clear to approach and the originating point of the assailant’s gunfire. His calm and composed actions during a very traumatic, critical moment most assuredly contributed to the safety of his partner, the responding units, and likely played a key part in saving his own life, as he was racing the clock against rapid loss of blood. He never lost consciousness, did not panic, and was able to clearly communicate the situation to the benefit of the responding Border Patrol units and other agency units. 1999 James E. Lassiter Jr. Immigration Officer Rome District Mr. James E. Lassiter, while on official duty as the Assistant Officer-In-Charge, Nairobi, Kenya, Rome District, Office of International Affairs, courageously saved the life of Foreign Service National employee of the United States Government following the attack of the U.S. Embassy on August 7, 1998. Mr. Lassiter was in an interior section of the main floor of the Embassy when the explosion occurred. Mr. Lassiter was buried under four feet of concrete bricks and ceiling material. He was in total darkness, pinned to the floor from the waist down, and forced to breathe toxic, smoke-filled air. When the smoke and dust cleared, Mr. Lassiter forcibly extricated himself from the heavy rubble and, although in shock, began climbing over bricks, glass, broken furniture, and mangled security bars towards daylight at the rear of the Embassy. When Mr. Lassiter reached the INS office and adjacent foreign commercial Service office areas, he could see that all interior walls had been blown down and broken desks and files were piled from two to eight feet deep. Still in shock, he continued to make his way toward the light when he heard a cry for help from a Foreign Service National employee of the Foreign Commercial Service. When Mr. Lassiter found the employee, he had blood streaming from his head and face and his left hand was partially severed at the wrist. Mr. Lassiter assisted him to his feet, put the Kenyan’s arm around his neck, and helped him to reach the back wall. Mr. Lassiter assisted him in climbing onto a high window ledge and then dragged and verbally directed the employee to crawl approximately 15 feet to a place where they could safely exit the building and then assisted him into an ambulance. Despite severely bruised ribs and a smashed lower leg, Mr. Lassiter remained at the scene to assist in further rescue efforts. He gave direction and information to rescue workers and security personnel regarding those individuals who were present on the main floor at the time of the blast, and the layout and condition of the interior of the main floor. The Foreign Service National Employee was evacuated to Germany for medical treatment and has since regained his eyesight and use of his left hand. Joseph P. Martin Immigration Officer Rome District Mr. Joseph P. Martin, Officer-in-Charge, Nairobi, Kenya, Rome District, Office of International Affairs, is recognized for his unusual courage and bravery in his reaction to the terrorist bombing of the United States Embassy in Nairobi on August 7, 1998. Mr. Martin was in the Embassy at the time of the explosion and was able to exit the building; however, on three occasions, ignoring his own safety, he returned into the building to assist in the rescue operation of other trapped, injured, and deceased Embassy personnel. Mr. Martin assisted in the evacuation of several Embassy personnel, including the wife of his Assistant Officer-in-Charge. Additionally, concerned about the fate of another INS employee, Mr. Martin returned to the INS area of the building in an attempt to locate her. The INS office was one of the hardest hit at the Embassy; however, Mr. Martin climbed a ladder back into the Embassy in an attempt to ensure the employee’s safety. Armando Moralez Supervisory Border Patrol Agent San Diego Sector On the morning of August 8, 1998, at approximately 8:05 a.m., a serious injury two-vehicle accident occurred at the intersection of Ballantyne and Main in the city of El Cajon. As a result of the accident, one of the vehicles which was occupied by an adult female driver and a three-year-old passenger, burst into flames. Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Armando Moralez was on duty at the time of the two-vehicle accident. As he came upon the scene, he positioned his vehicle to block the traffic flow to keep other vehicles from becoming involved in the accident scene. Upon observing the fire and that the vehicle was occupied, SBPA Moralez immediately retrieved his fire extinguisher from his Border Patrol vehicle and began attempting to extinguish the fire. During this time, SBPA Moralez and other law enforcement officers exposed themselves to the danger of the fire and possible exploding fuel. SBPA Moralez continued to fight the fire until the rescue of the two victims was complete. During this stressful emergency, SBPA Moralez exercised great courage and bravery in the pursuit of a worthwhile objective fully knowing that he was placing himself in imminent peril of loss of life or great bodily injury in the line of duty. USBP Fallen As of May 16, 2022, the U.S. Border Patrol has suffered 152* fallen. Titles:
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.
2016
Manuel A. Alvarez Date of Birth October 12, 1978 Entered on Duty: July 13, 2003 Title: Border Patrol Agent End of Watch: August 11, 2016 Details: On August 11, 2016, Border Patrol Agent Manuel A. Alvarez was killed in the line of duty near Casa Grande, Arizona. Agent Alvarez was involved in a vehicle accident and died at the scene. He was 37 years old and assigned to the Casa Grande Station. Agent Alvarez entered on duty July 13, 2003, as a member of U.S. Border Patrol Academy Class 557. He is survived by his wife, four children, parents and two sisters. Gravesite |
Clifford GillBlog author, retired U.S. Border Patrol Assistant Chief and, current U.S. Border Patrol employee advocate. Ray HarrisSite founder and owner, former Supervisory Border Patrol Agent and retired Immigration Special Agent. Joseph BancoU.S. Border Patrol historian and retired Deputy Chief Patrol Agent. Archives
October 2024
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