This Week in USBP History, Vol. 68

December 18 - December 24

This should reflect dark humor, not workforce reality

​Good morning!
 
Welcome to another This Week in USBP History!  
 
Each week I try to share a story or an idea in this intro section that I hope will lead to changes beneficial to the workforce.  This week is no different. But, for those beneficial changes to occur, individuals (usually current USBP leadership) must have the strength to be self-critical.
 
All of us have heard many different definitions of leadership and management. When I think of the concepts, I try to look at them through the lens of the USBP and its workforce.  
 
Here's my take, and it's neither absolute or all-encompassing:

• If a person has a bias toward the workforce, they have a higher propensity of being a good leader.  A leader of people!
• If a person has a bias toward profits, programs or mission, they have a higher propensity of being a good manager. A manager of mission!

 
Notice what I did there? Running operations is absolutely not synonymous with being a leader!  Maybe that's Border Patrol blasphemy... Nevertheless, if a person in a position of authority has a bias toward the mission (over the workforce), then they have a higher propensity of being a good manager of the mission.  Remember, that person is measured by those in their charge, not by what they say, but by what they do!  Actions and inactions speak louder than words.
 
I've said it before, there is a reason that CBP and the USBP constantly do horribly on the annual Federal Employee Viewpoint Surveys (FEVS).  This year is no different.  Less than 16% of the USBP workforce responded to this year's FEVS invitation, very clearly indicating a lack of confidence that their participation will make any difference, and recent history shows that they are correct.
 
It is easy to blame poor FEVS scores on one Presidential Administration or other, but know this, the USBP's FEVS scores have ranked in the bottom 10% of the entire federal government for over a decade. So, I'll say this...
 
It's past time for those in positions of authority in CBP and the USBP to have a bias toward their workforce. I believe that slogans such as Mission First, People Always, are horrible because that promote a bias toward managing the mission, usually a the expense of the workforce. Thus, creating not leaders of people but managers of mission.
 
Remember, as Simon Sinek said, "It's not about being in charge, it's about taking care of those in your charge!"  In other words, take care of the workforce and let them take care of the mission!
 
To alleviate any doubts, if you wear one of the insignia below in dress uniform or are a professional staff equivalent, I'm speaking to you!

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USBP Station Shoulder Ornament

USBP Sector Shoulder Ornament

USBP Headquarter Shoulder Ornament

​This week starts with a 1908 memo by which Mounted Inspector Jeff Milton requests and extension of his leave. We have another El Paso Sub-district gunfight in 1928.  And we finish the Documents/Events Section with three references from Joe Banco's books.
 
There are no known Newton-Azrak Award action anniversaries this week.  As is the cousin in the newsletter, I will highlight a recipient of which we do not know their action's anniversary.  This week's highlight is LeAlan L. Pinkerton. He is a recipient from 1998.  I have no additional information.  However, I was able to contact LeAlan last week and I hope to be able to update the Newton-Azrak Award page with his information and maybe a few photos.  Until then, enjoy the photo to the right.  LeAlan and I were in the 2008 Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade.  He let me get on his horse Bullet.  Much to the discomfort of all who witnessed me mounting and dismounting (not to mention Bullet), I was wearing a kilt.
 
We also remember three 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.

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​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.

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Documents/Events

1908

• Although written about 16 years before the creation of the Border Patrol, this request for an extension of leave without pay contains two names of Border Patrol significance.  On December 20, 1908, Jeff Milton (1861-1947) was on annual leave and requested an extension without pay.  The memo was to be route through channels to the Secretary of Labor but was approved by Chief and Father of the Border Patrol Frank Berkshire (1870-1934).
  
  • It should be noted, as per documents that supported Jeff Milton's retirement in 1932, he neither had been a Border Patrol Inspector nor a member of the Border Patrol.  However, he was a well-known law enforcement officer in the El Paso District, which encompasses modern day Tucson, El Paso and Big Bend Sectors.  It is thought that the leaders of the newly formed Border Patrol used Jeff Milton's rugged independence as an example for new inspectors to follow.  This led to him mistakenly being considered the first Border Patrol Inspector.  Concerning a first Border Patrol Inspector, evidence indicates that there was not a "first" Border Patrol Inspector that hirings were conducted simultaneously throughout the nation.

1919

• On December 19, 1919, future Chief and Father of the Border Patrol Frank Berkshire (1870-1934) submitted an application for a passport.
  
  • A great find by Joe Banco!

1928

• On December 21, 1928, three Border Patrol Inspectors were involved in a close-quarters gunfight with four alcohol smugglers in El Paso, Texas.  This document which contains several cover memos and sworn statements, describes the encounter where one smuggler was killed, two incapacitated with strikes to the head and one apprehended without injury. Concerning the action, Acting Commissioner-General (and former “Chief” of the Border Patrol) George Harris wrote: The Bureau is satisfied that the shooting was justified in every way and the officers involved are hereby commended for their good judgement, coolness and self-restraint under most trying conditions.  The Patrol Inspectors involves were:
  
  • Senior Patrol Inspector Egbert N. Crossett (1888-1967)
    
  • Patrol Inspector Harrison C. Pugh (1897-1982)
    
  • Patrol Inspector Melton R. Rogers (1905-1986​)

1934

• Earliest known reference to create a Border Patrol Academy
  
  • On December 22, 1934, Chief of the Border Patrol Willard Kelly (1903-1969) wrote a memo to the Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service.  The memo is significant in that it demonstrates that the Border Patrol did not have a national training school and it identifies that the training plan developed by the El Paso District was, “… extensive, the subjects well chosen, and the plan of instruction excellent.”
    
  • Later that same day (December 22, 1934), under the direction of the Commissioner, Chief Kelly sent a memo to all of the border districts (except for the El Paso District).  The memo shared the El Paso District training plan, requested all other districts to explain how they trained new inspectors and invited them to give suggestions and comments.
    
  • It should be noted, a photograph (courtesy of the  Border Patrol Museum) of a Border Patrol training class that was in session December 3, 1934 - March 17, 1935, is used as the birthdate of the USBP Academy.  It is unknown if Camp Chigas had been used by the El Paso District (Tucson, El Paso and Big Bend Sub-districts) to train district employees before that photo. However, the concept of creating a national academy had been discussed and researched in 1934 (see this document and this document).  Records were not kept that identified the date that Camp Chigas began training all Border Patrol new hires and therefore became the national Academy. Nevertheless, 1936 is the year that documents support that having occurred.

1944

• On December 23, 1944, Patrol Inspectors Bucky Newsome, Salty Shreve, and Rex Holgerson were alerted to an escape from the Papago Park POW Camp in Arizona.  It was the largest POW escape in the U.S. and became known as the Great Papago Escape, drawing attention of the FBI to the lack security at Army-controlled POW camps. Twenty-five German POWs had dug a 178- foot tunnel from a bathhouse that extended under the two barbed wire fences, a road, and into the Arizona Crosscut Canal. The Patrol Inspectors assisted the U.S. Army and tracked several of the escaping Germans, finding them in the desert near Sells, 60 miles west of Nogales. Two more were found by Patrol Inspectors within 10 miles of the border with Mexico. All 25 POWs were eventually captured, the last of whom were caught 35 days after leaving the camp.
  
  • ​​From - HONOR FIRST:  The Story of the United States Border Patrol - Volume I by Joseph Banco
    
  • Bucky Newsome - Carter Monroe Newsome (1913-1999)
    
  • Salty Shreve - Floyd D. Shreve (1916-1974)

1952

• On December 24, 1952, the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (P.L. 414, 66 Stat. 163) became effective. The new statute, simply referred to as the INA, was crafted to be an all-inclusive immigration and naturalization law by combining, updating, and codifying all previous laws pertaining to “Aliens and Nationality” under Title 8 of the U.S. Code. 
  
  • From - HONOR FIRST:  The Story of the United States Border Patrol - Volume II by Joseph Banco

1962

• Patrol Inspector David Smith was one of a dozen Border Patrolmen, primarily from Miami Sector, who flew to San Antonio de los Baños Airfield, Cuba, on December 21, 1962, to pre-screen 1,113 Cuban Freedom Fighters who had been captured by the Castro government after the failed Bay of Pigs invasion.
  
  • From - HONOR FIRST:  The Story of the United States Border Patrol - Volume II by Joseph Banco​

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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

There are no known Newton-Azrak Award action anniversaries this week.  However, I will highlight 1998 recipient:
 
LeAlan L. Pinkerton
 
Nothing is known about the action that led to his selection to receive the award.  Recently, I was able to locate and speak with LeAlan.  It's my hope that I will be able to share new information with you soon and use it to update the Newton-Azrak Award page.

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U.S. Border Patrol Badge with Mourning Band

USBP Fallen

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.

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

1950
 
Richard D. Clarke
Date of Birth:                      December 6, 1926
Entered on Duty:                February 23, 1949
Title:                                   Patrol Inspector
End of Watch:                    December 18, 1950

​Details:
At about 1:00 p.m. on December 18, 1950, Patrol Inspector Richard D. Clarke and his teammate, Patrol Inspector Ralph L. Trantor, took Eulalio Cordero, an illegal alien, into custody in south El Paso. They were bringing him to headquarters by automobile for further questioning when the alien suddenly stabbed Inspector Clarke in the heart. His death was instantaneous. The alien then seized Inspector Trantor's gun. Patrol Inspector Trantor slammed on the car's brakes, held on to the gun and threw himself into the back seat where he grappled with the alien and succeeded in holding him until police officers arrived. During the struggle, Trantor's gun was discharged once, the bullet passing through a car seat. Inspector Trantor was badly bitten on the face and arms.
 
The incident began as a routine immigration procedure. Inspector Clarke questioned Cordero on a street in El Paso, Texas. First claiming to be a citizen of the United States, he later admitted he was an illegal alien. Cordero was charged with murder.​

​Gravesite
 
 
2004
 
George R. DeBates
Date of Birth:                November 19, 1972
Entered on Duty:          April 25, 1999
Title:                              Border Patrol Agent
End of Watch:               December 19, 2004
 
Details:
On December 19, 2004, Agent George R. DeBates was involved in a single-vehicle accident while on patrol near Pisinimo, Arizona. He died as a result of his injuries.
 
Agent DeBates was working on a camp detail while assigned to the Casa Grande Station.  Agent DeBates is the fourth Department of Homeland Security employee to die in the line of duty since the Department was created in March 2003.
 
Originally, from Wisconsin, Agent DeBates was a graduate of the 403rd session of the Border Patrol Academy. A four-year veteran of the Border Patrol, Agent DeBates was assigned to the Casa Grande Station, on detail to the Ajo Station.

​Gravesite
 
 
2019
 
Luis O. Peña Jr. 
Date of Birth:                July 16, 1977 
Entered on Duty:          January 27, 2003 
Title:                              Border Patrol Agent 
End of Watch:               December 23, 2019 
 
Details: 
On December 23, 2019, Border Patrol Agent Luis O. Peña Jr. succumbed to complications related to significant injuries he received from a vehicle accident (roll over) on the Tohono O’odham Nation on October 18, 2007.  BPA Peña was medically retired on October 8, 2010. 
    
Agent Peña entered on duty with the United States Border Patrol on January 27, 2003, as a member of the 538th session of the Border Patrol Academy.  He was assigned to the Casa Grande Border Patrol Station in the Tucson Sector following his graduation.  Agent Peña served with the United States Border Patrol for over seven years.