This Week in USBP History, Vol. 33

April 17 - April 23

ESPRIT DE CORPS
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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
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1918

• On April 18, 1918, the Commissioner-General wrote a response to future Chief and Father of the Border Patrol Frank Berkshire.  The Commissioner-General's response referenced a suggestion that Berkshire had made to establish a "border patrol".  The Commissioner-General stated that high level discussions identified that such a force could be created as a new branch of the military or as part of the Immigration Service.

1956

• On April 18, 1956, Senate Bill S. 3656 was introduced, "To provide for the acquisition of sites and the construction of buildings for a training school and for sector headquarters for the immigration border patrol, and for other purposes."

1970

• On April 20, 1970, Chief of the Border Patrol Donald R. Coppock wrote a memo related to the change in title from Border Patrol Inspectors to Border Patrol Agents that occurred that year. Both titles are used in the memo.
  • It should be noted that Coppock's title in the memo is Deputy Associate Commissioner, Domestic Control.  In that position, he was compensated at the GS-17 level (before the Senior Executive Service was created).  He was promoted from the GS-16, Assistant Commissioner, Enforcement to that position on August 25, 1968.  Absent other evidence, both positions are considered to be Chief of the Border Patrol.
  • Donald R. Coppock is the longest serving Chief of the Border Patrol, holding the position 1960-1973.

2020

• On April 18, 2020, Chief Scott signed a memo (that I authored), concerning devices authorized for wear on the Border Patrol uniform.  The memo created two classes of devices: Qualification Devices and Specialty Devices.  See the memo and the USBP Authorized Devices link for more information
• In April 2020, Chief of the Border Patrol Raul Ortiz, by way of verbal order and contrary to established procedures, blocked the worthy USBP Honorary Award nominations for 370 USBP employees.  50 of those 370 employees had been nominated for acts of heroism/valor. Two of the 50 heroism nominations had been recommended to receive Newton-Azrak Awards by a seasoned awards panel comprised of headquarters personnel.  Unfortunately, until that decision is reversed, all of those employees' names will not be known, their actions will be forgotten and, they will be forever be unrecognized by the USBP.  See this page for more information.
  • It is my hope that this decision will be reversed, taking an important and easy step of valuing the workforce by following the comprehensive guidance governing the USBP Honorary Awards.  Not only by recognizing those 370 employees, but each employee whose actions cross the threshold of the award criteria. 

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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​

1992
Johnny Magdaleno
Border Patrol Agent
Yuma Sector
Brendan Manley
Border Patrol Agent
Yuma Sector
Armando Ornelas
Border Patrol Agent
Yuma Sector
Robert Pittenridge
Border Patrol Agent
Yuma Sector
On April 23, 1992, Border Patrol Agents Magdaleno, Ornelas, Pittenridge, and Manley rescued four youths who were trapped in a vehicle that had crashed and become engulfed in flames.
 
Agents Magdaleno and Ornelas commenced pursuit of a vehicle that ran the traffic checkpoint.  The pursuit came to an abrupt end when the driver attempted to exit at an off-ramp, crashed through the guardrail, became airborne off the embankments, and crashed to the desert floor.  Upon arrival at the scene, the two Agents observed the engine on fire and the youths in a heap in the back seat, injured and trapped, crying for help.  They called for an ambulance, ran to the vehicle, and began attempting to extricate them.   The impact of the crash had jammed the doors shut and they were locked into position.  The fire was rapidly spreading to the interior of the vehicle.  Agent Ornelas physically tore the left front door from the vehicle, thereby exposing the passenger compartment.  Two persons were quickly removed and carried a short distance to safety.
 
When Agent Pittenridge arrived on the scene, he immediately ran to the vehicle to assist in the extrication of the remaining occupants, ignoring the flames that had now engulfed the entire front end of the vehicle.
 
Agent Manley now arrived at the scene, assessed the situation, radioed for an ambulance and fire truck, grabbed his fire extinguisher, and ran to the vehicle.  One more passenger had been removed to safety.  Two agents were in the vehicle attempting to remove the fourth passenger and the other agent was reaching into the vehicle trying to undo the tangled seat belts.  At this point, the flames were extremely close to the remaining occupant and the three agents.  Agent Manley attempted to extinguish the fire and was successful in temporarily beating back the flames as the agents feverishly worked at removing the fourth victim.
 
After the successful extrication of the victims, the agents removed the victims from the close proximity of the now totally engulfed vehicle and administered first aid until rescue personnel arrived.  Without the actions of all four agents, the successful rescue of the youths would not have been accomplished.


2000
 
Walter M. Davenport
Senior Patrol Agent 
Border Patrol Tactical Unit 
James D. Goldman ​ - Award Statuette
Assistant District Director of Investigations
Miami District Office
Jonathan P. Miller
Senior Patrol Agent
Border Patrol Tactical Unit 
Ruben Miranda
Supervisory Border Patrol Agent 
Border Patrol Tactical Unit 
Charles L. Sachs
Senior Patrol Agent
Border Patrol Tactical Unit
Mickey A. Valdez
Supervisory Border Patrol Agent
Border Patrol Tactical Unit
Casey S. Wilson
Immigration Agent (Enforcement) 
Miami, Florida
James L. Wolynetz Jr.          
Immigration Agent (Enforcement) 
Miami, Florida
Betty A. Mills
Special Agent
Miami, Florida
Steven J. Pastor
Supervisory Border Patrol Agent
Border Patrol Tactical Unit
Charles C. Whitmire
Supervisory Border Patrol Agent
Border Patrol Tactical Unit
Eleven Immigration and Naturalization Service employees were recognized for his involvement in Operation Reunion, the enforcement response that INS/Border Patrol conducted to safely recover Elian Gonzalez and reunite him with his father conducted on April 22, 2000.

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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.

1926
William W. McKee
Date of Birth:                     July 3, 1886
Entered on Duty:               February 27, 1926
Title:                                  Patrol Inspector
End of Watch:                   April 23, 1926
Details:
On April 23, 1926, information was received that a liquor pack train had left Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, for the United States and on that date would be at or near the Alhambre Ranch about 40 miles southwest of Tucson, Arizona. Near the ranch, officers of the Border Patrol saw such a pack train, and in an attempt to capture it, Patrol Inspector McKee was shot and killed at the wheel of a patrol car. The smugglers fired from ambush while being pursued by Inspector McKee. The smuggler responsible for killing Inspector McKee was later convicted of first-degree murder.
 
Survivor benefits - As per this document, his wife received $49 per month.


1927
Thad Pippin
Date of Birth:                     October 16, 1889
Entered on Duty:               May 17, 1926
Title:                                   Patrol Inspector
End of Watch:                    April 21, 1927
Details:
Patrol Inspector Thad Pippin, El Paso, Texas, met his death in the mountains near Pelea, New Mexico, on the night of April 21, 1927, during the course of a gunfight in which he and a brother officer were engaged with smugglers.  Patrol Inspector Crossett, who was with him, was wounded four times.
​ 
​On information that contraband was being smuggled into the United States, a number of Patrol Inspectors, including Inspector Pippin, went to Pelea, New Mexico. Just before dark, they discovered a pack train approaching along a trail at some distance.  The officers divided into two teams and guarded their respective trails until after dark, when they heard rapid shooting.  Officers arrived and found Officer Crossett shot four times and in urgent need of medical attention.  Officer Pippin was located and had fallen down an embankment after having been shot and killed. Nineteen gallons of liquor and two burros were seized at the time but none of the smuggling party was apprehended.


1978
Jose P. Gamez, Jr.
Date of Birth:                January 3, 1947
Entered on Duty:          October 4, 1976
Title:                              Patrol Agent
End of Watch:               April 21, 1978
 
Details:
Patrol Agent Jose P. Gamez, Jr. was working 4:00 p.m. to 12 midnight in the area of an isolated check gate on the Maverick County Irrigation Canal in the Quemado Valley, 25 miles north of Eagle Pass, Texas.
 
Patrol Agent Frank J. Lugo, with whom Gamez was working, reported him missing late on April 21, 1978. According to Agent Lugo, he had become separated from Gamez while they were attempting to apprehend four or five undocumented aliens.
 
Agent Gamez's body was recovered from the canal the next morning and it was presumed he had fallen into the canal and drowned. A few days later, the Bexar County Medical Examiner's report revealed Agent Gamez had been choked, probably with a board, and dragged to the canal by an unknown assailant or assailants. He was dead when he was thrown into the water.


1995
*Joe R. White 
Date of Birth:                November 19, 1954
Entered on Duty:          July 5, 1988
Title:                              Border Patrol Agent
 End of Watch:              April 18, 1995
 
Details:
On April 18, 1995, Laredo North Border Patrol Agent Joe R. White passed away early in the morning after suffering an apparent heart attack while on duty at the IH-35 checkpoint. Agent White was transported to Doctors Hospital by ambulance, but was pronounced dead upon arrival.
 
Agent White was a 7-year veteran of the U.S. Border Patrol and a graduate of the 223rd Border Patrol Academy class. He was a canine handler assigned K-9 Brutus. Prior to Brutus, Agent White was the handler for Benno, who was one of the original K-9 assigned to the Laredo Sector.
 
During his 3 1/2 year tenure as a canine handler, Agent White made 155 narcotic seizures worth $8,836,512, seized $126,800 in U.S. currency, and located 1,701 undocumented aliens.
* His name is not inscribed on the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial

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2016
Jose D. Barraza
Date of Birth                 April 13, 1987
Entered on Duty:          August 8, 2008
Title:                              Border Patrol Agent
End of Watch:               April 18, 2016
 
Details:
On April 18, 2016, Border Patrol Agent Canine Handler Jose D. Barraza was killed in the line of duty in a two-vehicle accident near Sierra Blanca, Texas.
Agent Barraza entered on duty on August 8, 2008, as a member of U.S. Border Patrol Academy Class 800. He was assigned to the Sierra Blanca Station.
Agent Barraza was 29 years old and is survived by his wife, two children and his mother.