This Week in USBP History, Vol. 30

March 27 - April 2

Good morning,

Enjoy This Week in USBP History!  Make sure explore all of the hyperlinks to documents and pages.  

Also, please forward this blog to whomever you think may enjoy it. 

Have a great week!

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 employees 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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USBP History
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1906

• On April 6, 1906, acting Chinese Inspector Park wrote a memo to Jeff Milton’s supervisor, George Webb.  Since this memo was discovered in the National Archives, it was evidentially sent to Washington DC as one of the many reports concerning an event in which Milton was involved.  Summarizing this instance, Mr. Kidder drew and pointed a cocked revolver at Milton’s face in a restaurant.  Milton suggested that they go outside, out of the view of women and children, where Kidder may have the chance to use his revolver.  Once outside, Milton told Kidder, that if Kidder put his hand in his pocket, that Milton would kill him.  Acting Inspector Park finished the memo by stating, “…owing to Mr. Kidder’s obedience, no one was killed.”

1907

• Jeff Milton had a busy 1907 with complaints against him making it to Washington DC.  This March 29, 1907 letter, was signed by approximately 19 people who had come to Milton’s defense concerning him accidentally shooting a man in the foot while trying to break up a dog fight.

1926

• On March 29, 1926, General Order 63, Authority of Immigration and Border Patrol Officer to Enforce Law Other Than The Immigration Laws, was signed.  This general order unquestionably authorized the enforcement of alcohol and narcotic related offenses. 
• On March 31, 1926, Ruel Davenport authored the earliest known memo signed as the Chief of the Border Patrol.  At the time, the position was called “Supervisor, Border Patrol”.  Davenport was the Chief for the Northern Border and George Harris was the Chief for the Southern Border.
• On April 1, 1926, General Order 61 came into effect as per this memo.
  • General Order 61 is a foundational document in Border Patrol history and, perhaps, the single most influential document in Border Patrol history for the following reasons;
    • It contains one of the earliest known descriptions of the functions of the Border Patrol (GO 63 expanded on this)
      • The Border Patrol is an auxiliary branch of the regular Immigration Service.  The Patrol is established primarily to prevent and detect the surreptitious entry of aliens into the United States. It will however, aid in the enforcement of all federal laws designed to safeguard our country against the introduction of contraband. The Patrol will, in general, operate along and in the vicinity of the international and maritime borders of the United States. 
    • It created the hierarchal naming convention of calling a sub-district (modern-day sector) by both a number, and the city in which it was located. It is believed that this document’s concept was also used for stations and is the genesis for El Paso Station being called “Station One” and Laredo Sector calling all of their stations “Base #” to name two.  See the USBP History page, “Why is the El Paso Station called Station One?” section for more information.
      • Each Patrol district will in turn be appropriately divided into subdistricts numbered consecutively, beginning with No. 1 in each district. 
    • It created an organizational framework that is recognizable today.
      • Supervisors (Border Patrol) – This is what we call Chief of the Border Patrol today.  This was a non-uniformed position.
      • Officers in charge of districts – This was an extra title added on to the 11 heads of districts that had Border Patrol employees.  They were not Border Patrol employees but were in their chains of command.  Their official titles were either “District Director” or “Commissioner of Immigration”.
      • Assistant Superintendents, who shall be qualified immigrant inspectors – These were the ranking Border Patrol employees in a district.  There was only one per district.  Remember, a district was comprised of multiple sub-districts, modern-day sectors.  They were also the highest-ranking uniformed position in the USBP.
      • Chief Patrol Inspectors, who shall be qualified immigrant inspectors – They led sub-districts and the title is still used today with “Agent” instead of “Inspector”
      • Senior Patrol Inspectors – This was a supervisory position between the Chief Patrol Inspector and Patrol Inspectors. The position had a one sentence position description (below) until this guidance was issued.  It is also the launching point of the 10-15 positions that exist between the modern-day Border Patrol Agent and Chief Patrol Agent.
        • Senior Patrol Inspectors will perform such duties as may be assigned to them by the respective Chief Patrol Inspectors under whom they serve. 
      • Patrol Inspectors – The heart of the organization
        • Patrol Inspectors will be expected to familiarize themselves with all federal statutes designed to prevent the unlawful entry of aliens and introduction of contraband. Law violators apprehended, together with any contraband seized by patrol inspectors, will be turned over to the appropriate law enforcement agencies, and proper receipt therefore, on Form 644, secured when delivery is made to other than immigration officers. They will be charged with the proper use and care of all Government equipment entrusted to them.
      • Clerks, and Motor Mechanics – USBP support personnel have been there since the beginning.
    • It created reports that both one and two patch agents may recognize
      • The Daily Report – Form 650
      • Receipts for Persons and Contraband – Form 644
        • They evolved to become the I-44 in the 1940’s
      • Weekly Reports – Form 643
      • Monthly Reports

1930

• On March 27, 1930, H.R. 11204 was introduced, “Border Patrol Act, 1930”.  This bill would have expanded the U.S. Coast Guard by creating a border patrol within it, including enlisted personnel, warrant officers and 60 commissioned officers to lead it.  Once created, the President was authorized to discontinue the Customs Border Patrol and the Immigration Border Patrol.  Therefore, this proposed USCG border patrol was not going to absorb the other patrols, but was to take their place.
• On April 2, 1930, a gunfight occurred between Border Patrol Inspectors and alcohol smugglers in which smuggler Lorenzo Galindo was fatally shot.  This collection of documents describes the brief gunfight where a total of five shots were fired.

1935

• On April 1, 1935, Chief of the Border Patrol Willard Kelly authored one of the earliest documentsconcerning construction of facilities for the USBP.  The USBP had always utilized existing structures for Border Patrol work.  This document proposed new construction for the first time.

1953

• On April 2, 1953, Assistant Commissioner (former Chief of the Border Patrol) Willard Kelly wrote a memothe District Director of the San Antonio District concerning, “The need for a fence at Brownsville, Texas to form a barrier against illegal entry or aliens.”  This memo was a cover memo for a 7-page reportconcerning “the need construction of boundary fence and observation towers in vicinity of Brownsville, Texas-Matamoros, Mexico to control illegal traffic.”  The document is a “condensed report taken from a 29-page report submitted by Patrol Inspector in Charge Snow.”  The first two paragraphs which were written 68 years ago, seem just as applicable today.
  • The illegal traffic across the practically dry Rio Grande River bed within the area encompassed by the city limits of Brownsville, Texas and the neighboring city of Matamoros, Tamps., Mexico has reached such proportions that the construction of a boundary fence seems to be not only necessary and justified but also almost imperative. I know of no other way to cope with the situation. It is already completely beyond the ability of the presently authorized strength of the Brownsville Border Patrol unit to control, and grows worse steadily.
  • The seriousness of this situation lies not only in the fact that such large numbers of aliens are violating our Immigration laws to the point or making a farce or them, but that this disgraceful situation has become a public spectacle with thousands of out of state visitors from all over the nation witnessing and photographing these brazen mass violations of our laws in open daylight.

1955

• On March 30, 1955, famed Chief Patrol Inspector Leonard Gilman wrote a memo, that included numerous photos, to propose/justify the construction of a border fence in the Brownsville Sub-district.  This is a must read for current and former McAllen/Rio Grande Valley Sector folks.
  • Many times, Agent Gilman is mistakenly given sole credit for saving the day during the hijacking in 1961.  Although Gliman took out the adult hijacker, FBI special agent Francis Crosby and Second Officer Norman Simmons took out the other hijacker.

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Newton-Azrak Award Actions 
(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

1994
Robert S. Herrera     
Border Patrol Agent 
Yuma Sector
On March 29, 1994, at approximately 9:30 a.m., Border Patrol Agent Robert S. Herrera responded to an intrusion device that had indicated activity near the Sanchez Canal, west of San Luis, Arizona.  Upon Arrival, Agent Herrera observed a subject who appeared to be a male juvenile swimming to the east bank of the canal.  While watching the subject swim to the other side, BPA Herrera’s attention was caught by a disturbance in the water just to the south of where the first subject was swimming.

Looking to the south, Agent Herrera saw a person’s head break the surface of the water and then go back under. Continuing to watch, Agent Herrera saw the person pop up again, flail the water, and gasp for air before disappearing beneath the surface again.

By the time the individual went under for the third time, Agent Herrera was on the bank of the canal, dropping his leather as he jumped into the water.  In the middle of the canal, Agent Herrera was able to grab and eight-year-old child and bring him safely back to shore where BPA Matthew Sutton pulled him up onto dry land.

Robert Herrera’s actions on the morning of March 29, 1994, were above and beyond what is normally expected of an agent.  He imperiled his own safety by leaping into a polluted canal to save the life of a child.


1999
William T. Veal
Chief Patrol Agent
San Diego Sector
On the night of April 1, 1999, eastern San Diego County experienced very low temperatures and unexpected snow during a fierce overnight storm, which left many illegal entrant aliens stranded and lost in the rugged mountainous terrain of the area.  Many of these people were in great peril of imminent death and at least seven others had already succumbed.

After ensuring that Sector resources were mobilized to cope with this emergency, Chief Patrol Agent William T. Veal, in the early morning hours of April 2, responded by flying into service the Border Patrol’s heavy lift UH-1 helicopter.  Joined by the Patrol Agent in Charge of Air Operations, John D. Pool and Deputy Chief Patrol Agent Harold R. Beasley, he flew into very hazardous weather conditions to effect the rescue of stranded and hypothermic aliens.  During this time, Chief Veal rescued eight aliens who were hypothermic and in imminent danger of death.  The attending physician stated to rescue personnel that one of these individuals would have died had he not received medical attention within the hour.  Additionally, by flying through treacherous terrain in deteriorating weather conditions, while fighting low ceilings, clouds, and fog, Chief Veal inserted Border Patrol and San Diego County Search and Rescue teams into accessible areas to search for stranded aliens. This included making landings in the same rugged terrain, at times with only one tip of a skid touching the ground.

With no regard for his personal safety, Chief Veal continued search and rescue activities until he was assured that no additional aliens were in peril.  He flew a total of 6.9 hours with the only breaks being three brief refueling stops.


2001
Benjamin Sanford
Senior Patrol Agent
El Centro Sector
​On April 2, 2001, Senior Patrol Agent Benjamin Sanford was patrolling a stretch of the All American Canal, near Calexico, California, monitoring the border fence for people attempting to enter the country illegally from Mexico. A concerned citizen frantically approached him to report that a car had just plummeted into the canal. Agent Sanford immediately called his colleagues at the Calexico Station for assistance, and then drove to the crash site. When he arrived at the scene, he saw a partially submerged car and a woman flailing in a fight against the swift currents. Realizing he could not wait for help to arrive, and giving little regard to his own well-being, he dove into the water, swam to the woman, and dragged her to shore. His heroic actions saved her from certain death.

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USBP Fallen

As of December 8, 2021, the U.S. Border Patrol has suffered 151* fallen.
Titles

• 3 Mounted Watchmen fell before 1924 and are carried as Border Patrol fallen
• 48 Border Patrol Inspectors fell between 1924 and 1970
• 99 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 - His name is inscribed on the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial (see link) but he is not recognized as officially fallen by the U.S. Border Patrol.  His EOW was November 7, 1999.

Lee L. Bounds
​Date of Birth:                November 24, 1936
Entered on Duty:          June 22, 1970
Title:                             Patrol Agent
End of Watch:               March 29, 1974
Details:
Border Patrol Agent Lee L. Bounds of the Lordsburg Station, El Paso Sector, was killed in a jeep accident on March 29, 1974. He was traveling alone on a road between Animas and Rodeo, New Mexico, southwest of Lordsburg, and ran the jeep off the right shoulder of the road. He lost control when he attempted to steer the vehicle back onto the road and the jeep overturned. Bounds was thrown from the vehicle, which rolled over him before stopping in an upright position, Mr. Bounds’ head was crushed. The jeep, which was equipped with seat belts and roll bar, was damaged extensively.


Luis A. Santiago
Date of Birth:                November 9, 1964
Entered on Duty:          June 6, 1994
Title:                              Border Patrol Agent (Trainee)
End of Watch:               March 28, 1995
Details:
At approximately 11:45 p.m., Agent Santiago was working in a canyon near Lower Otay Reservoir when he and other agents saw a group of about 20 illegal aliens.  The agents identified themselves as Border Patrol and ordered the aliens to stop. The group scattered and the agents followed.  Agent Santiago gave chase along the rim of the canyon, taking a narrow trail that leads to the edge of a cliff. He lost his footing on loose rock and slippery grass and fell approximately 120 feet to his death.

On June 6, 1994, Luis Santiago joined the U.S. Border Patrol as a BPA (Trainee) at the San Diego Sector/Brown Field Station in San Diego, California. After entering on duty, he was sent to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia. On October 18, 1994, he graduated from the 267th Session and returned to San Diego.  Agent Santiago was one week short of taking his ten-month examination.


Stephen M. Sullivan
Date of Birth:                July 6, 1971
Entered on Duty:          August 4, 1996
Title:                             Border Patrol Agent
End of Watch:              March 27, 1999
Details:
On Saturday, March 27, 1999, Border Patrol Agent Stephen M. Sullivan was transporting a group of aliens on the Otay Truck Trail when his vehicle overturned and rolled down an embankment. Three of the aliens, who had been thrown from the vehicle, climbed up out of the embankment and approached another Border Patrol Agent, stating that others were still inside the vehicle and had been injured. Four people, including Agent Sullivan, were killed in the accident.

Agent Sullivan began his career with the INS as an Adjudications Officer in Los Angeles. He was hired by the Border Patrol in September 1997. At the time of his death, he was assigned to the El Cajon Station of the San Diego Sector.


Jarod C. Dittman
Date of Birth:                September 9, 1979
Entered on Duty:          March 5, 2007
Title:                              Border Patrol Agent
End of Watch:               March 30, 2008
Details:
Border Patrol Agent Jarod C. Dittman was killed in a single-vehicle accident near Jamul, California in the early morning hours of March 30, 2008.

Agent Dittman was driving from the Brown Field Border Patrol Station to his assigned patrol area, when his service vehicle rolled over, ejecting Agent Dittman from the vehicle. Another Border Patrol agent drove up on the scene and immediately called for emergency assistance. Due to the heavy fog, an airlift helicopter could not respond. Agent Dittman was pronounced dead while enroute to the hospital.

​Agent Dittman entered on duty with the U.S. Border Patrol on March 5, 2007, as a member of the 660th session of the Border Patrol Academy.  He was assigned to the Brown Field Station immediately after graduation from the Academy. Prior to joining the Border Patrol, Agent Dittman served in the Pennsylvania National Guard.