Newton-Azrak Award Actions


2000
​Jesus E. De La Vega
Supervisory Border Patrol Agent 
El Centro Sector
On November 2, 1999 at about 11:20 PM, Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Jesus E. De La Vega was patrolling the border area along Interstate Highway 8 near Seeley, California. As he turned off the highway, he saw a huge white cloud of smoke covering the ramp.  Through the smoke, he was able to make out a vehicle that had just crashed, rolled over twice, and come to rest on its side. Flames shot out from the front passenger compartment and from under the hood.  
 
Looking for occupants, SBPA De La Vega spied a single male victim, later identified as a Bruce Allen Stanley, who was severely disoriented and desperately attempting to exit the vehicle.  Stanley could make no headway, unable as he was to move his right arm, which had been injured when the vehicle rolled over.  Agent De La Vega asked Mr. Stanley whether any other occupants were in the vehicle. The victim stated that he was the only one. As the flames became more intense, Agent De La Vega, oblivious to his own safety, attempted to open the door of the vehicle, but was initially beaten back by the smoke and heat. After a few more attempts, Agent De La Vega was finally able to pull open the door, release the man’s seat belt, and drag him to safety away from the vehicle, which by then was entirely engulfed in flames.  Agent De La Vega proceeded to administer emergency first aid to Mr. Stanley and make him as comfortable as possible. 
 
Next, he radioed for emergency services, and within minutes, units from the California Highway Patrol, Imperial County Fire Department, and Gold Cross Ambulance had responded. They treated Mr. Stanley for the injuries to his shoulder and arm and for smoke inhalation.  For his part, Agent De La Vega escaped injury. His selfless and heroic actions saved a life and are a true inspiration.



2019

Tony Miranda
Assistant Chief
Washington D.C.
Past Event

On November 1, 2007, in Wellton, AZ, Agent Miranda observed a house almost completely engulfed in flames. Without regard for his personal safety, he entered the structure through the front door and assisted a woman in a wheelchair to safety. He immediately reentered the house, located a double amputee elderly man, and led him to safety. At that point, Agent Miranda was informed that a mother and two children were still in the house. A third time, he entered through the front door only to find that the ceiling was fully engulfed and that fiery debris was falling on him. As he retreated outside, he was told that the room in which the mother and children were believed to be was on the rear, right side of the house. With the help of a neighbor, Agent Miranda dislodged an air-conditioning unit from the wall, creating an entry point into the room. For a fourth time, Agent Miranda entered the house to save people. He found the room to be full of black smoke, with such intense heat that breathing was nearly impossible. Again, he was forced to retreat. Once outside, Agent Miranda instructed the neighbor to use a nearby garden hose and to douse his uniform with water. For a fifth time, Agent Miranda entered the house. He found the room to be engulfed in flame, full of choking smoke and raining debris from the ceiling that was on fire. Over the next week, Agent Miranda would lose his eyelashes, eyebrows and much of his hair. The heat that he experienced inside the house was so intense that it cause the hair to become brittle and to break off. For his conspicuous heroism and extraordinary courage, he was awarded the Commissioner’s Meritorious Service Award for Valor and the Secretary’s Valor Award.  Agent Miranda’s actions brought great credit upon himself and the United States Border Patrol.
 ​

Newton-Azrak Award Actions
1994
 
Jose (Joe) L. Perez
Supervisory Border Patrol Agent 
San Diego Sector
On the night of October 3, 1994, Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Jose (Joe) L. Perez was performing his patrol duties in the Dulzura, CA area on Highway 94.  Highway 94 runs east and west adjacent to the International Border between the United States and Mexico.  While performing his patrol duties, Agent Perez came upon a one-car vehicle accident.  Being the first law enforcement officer on the scene, Agent Perez took those steps necessary to notify the proper agencies through the Border Patrol Dispatch, and then took additional steps well above the call of duty.
 
Agent Perez observed that there were three occupants trapped inside a vehicle that was overturned and resting on its roof.  As Agent Perez approached the vehicle, he observed that the doors were jammed shut.  Agent Perez used what leverage he could and managed to open one front door.  Through this door, Agent Perez was able to remove the driver and the front seat passenger.  He placed both of them out of the flow of traffic and returned to the car.  Agent Perez then observed that the vehicle was on fire and that there was still one occupant trapped inside the vehicle.  Agent Perez reentered the vehicle and doubled his efforts to free the remaining passenger.  The last passenger was trapped between the collapsed roof of the vehicle and the rear seat with her legs hanging through the shattered rear window.  Using brute strength, Agent Perez was able to force the seat to move sufficiently to allow him to extricate the passenger.  Although the vehicle was on fire, Agent Perez took the time to ensure that any possible spinal or neck injuries were cared for before moving the passenger to a safe location.  Agent Perez continued performing immediate first aid until the arrival of the paramedics and fire units.
 
2020
Robert S. Holmes - photo
Border Patrol Agent
Grand Forks, ND
On October 3, 2020 at 9:00 PM, Bottineau Station Border Patrol Agent Robert Holmes assisted local law enforcement with a call regarding a suicidal man who was on top of a 144-foot structure. Beyond the call of duty while facing grave danger, Agent Holmes went to the top of the structure to search for the man. Upon reaching the top, Agent Holmes began searching the massive area which was riddled with shafts, pipes and other industrial hazards. Under the cover of night, Agent Holmes was able to locate the man, who was armed with a knife, near the edge of a grain elevator. Agent Holmes began a tactful conversation with the man and ultimately talked him into storing the knife in his pocket and moving away from the edge to safety. Agent Holmes’ actions brought great credit upon himself and the United States Border Patrol.