May 22 - May 28Good morning! Of course, this week covers the U.S. Border Patrol's 98th anniversary. To help celebrate the date, let me refer you to the HonorFirst USBP History Page where you can find detailed answers to the following questions:
Of course, there's much more on the HonorFirst USBP History Page. Have a great week! Cliff PS -
HOUSE KEEPING This is the section where I correct the mistakes from my last email. I will also use this section to provide other perspectives of USBP history. I didn't find any errors of significance from last week. This Week in USBP History, 05/15-05/215/15/2022 0 Comments Good morning! Welcome to another This Week in USBP History! Coming up on next week's anniversary of the Border Patrol, there are some documents that shed light into the uncertainty that existed as the Bureau of Immigration was on the brink of created ing the Border Patrol. Last week, with the April 30, 1924 memo, we saw there wasn't a plan that was being implemented. This week there are two documents of note. One concerning a recommendation for the title of the new position. The other, a lengthy and sharp criticism of only receiving $1,000,000 to to increase the "land-border patrol" and also includes what could be the foundations of "Honor First". I also present evidence that the first class a of a National Border Patrol Training School occurred on May 18, 1936, not on December 3, 1934. Those are your teasers! Let us also remember El Cajon Station Border Patrol Agent Daniel Salazar who was killed in an on-duty single vehicle accident on May 13, 2022. By the time of this writing, the Line of Death Determination has been made but not released. Have a great week! Cliff PS -
HOUSE KEEPING This is the section where I correct the mistakes from my last email. I will also use this section to provide other perspectives of USBP history.
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 1906
Newton-Azrak Award Action Anniversaries Follow this link to see examples of USBP employees Upholding Honor First.
1980 Joel C. Hardin Border Patrol Agent Bellingham, Washington On Thursday, May 24, 1979, Artie Ray Baker, who had escaped from prison, arrived from Canada at the Lynden Port of Entry with a female companion. Baker's car was selected for a routine inspection. Baker was referred to Customs Inspector Kenneth G. Ward for further examination inside the port-of-entry building. Once inside the building, Baker, fearing he would be caught, pulled a .45 caliber pistol from behind his back, shot and killed Inspector Ward. Baker and his companion fled the port-of-entry in his car. A short time later, Baker drove off-road and his car became stuck. Baker and his companion fled on foot and a large law enforcement search ensued. One of the searchers was Border Patrol Agent Joel Hardin. Even though the dogs and searching officers had obliterated most of Baker's tracks, Agent Hardin eventually found his trail. Accompanied by two local law enforcement officers with shotguns, Agent Hardin proceeded slowly to track Baker through the woods. He found where Baker had taken his boots off and had circled back, and where he hid in a tree. Agent Hardin pointed out where Baker had paused to put his boots on again, confident he had lost the tracking dogs. At about 8:00 a.m. Agent Hardin was closing in when a Bellingham Police detective spotted Baker crouching in the bushes, preparing to make a dash across Mission Road. The detective approached from behind, aimed his shotgun at Baker and ordered him to "freeze." Baker surrendered without a struggle, still in possession of the loaded .45 caliber pistol he used to kill Inspector Ward. Agent Harding was recognized with the Newton-Azrak Award for his part in capturing Baker. 1983 Bruce D. Sanny Border Patrol Agent San Diego Sector Border Patrol Agent Bruce D. Sanny was recognized for his courageous actions performed on May 23, 1983, in successfully stopping a driver-less van with three occupants, which was in danger of plummeting down a 100-foot cliff. USBP Fallen
As of May 16, 2022 the U.S. Border Patrol has suffered 152* fallen.Titles
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. Due to the Privacy Act of 1974, 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. This site honors both of the fallen.
2010 Mark F. Van Doren Date of Birth: July 18, 1969 Entered on Duty: January 19, 2009 Title: Border Patrol Agent End of Watch: May 24, 2010 Details: On May 23, 2010, Border Patrol Agent Mark F. Van Doren was in a vehicle accident while on patrol when his vehicle collided with a large bull on rural Farm-to-Market Road 755 in Brooks County, Texas. After the impact, his vehicle veered off the road- way and hit a tree. Agent Van Doren died on May 24, 2010 as a result of his injuries. His partner was critically injured in the crash, but survived. Agent Van Doren was a native of Garden City, Michigan. He was a member of the 849th Session of the Border Patrol Academy assigned to the Falfurrias Border Patrol Station within the Rio Grande Sector. 2014 Alexander I. Giannini Date of Birth October 14, 1989 Entered on Duty: October 16, 2008 Title: Border Patrol Agent End of Watch: May 28, 2014 Details: On May 28, 2014, Border Patrol Agent Alexander I. Giannini, of the Willcox Station, was involved in an on-duty, single-vehicle accident on Interstate 10 near Benson, Arizona. He died of injuries at the hospital shortly after the accident. Another agent in the vehicle was transported to the hospital with minor injuries. Agent Giannini, 24, entered on duty with the U.S. Border Patrol on October 16, 2008, as a member of the 822nd session of the Border Patrol Academy. He served the Willcox Station loyally throughout his career. Agent Giannini is survived by his mother, father, sister and fiancée. 2017 Isaac Morales Date of Birth October 15, 1986 Entered on Duty: February 18, 2008 Title: Border Patrol Agent End of Watch: May 24, 2017 Details: On May 20, 2017, while off-duty in El Paso, Texas, Border Patrol Agent Isaac Morales was confronted by an assailant with a knife. Agent Morales identified himself as a law enforcement officer, and while attempting to disarm the assailant, Agent Morales was stabbed multiple times. Agent Morales succumbed to his injuries four days later, passing away on May 24, 2017. The killer was arrested and charged with murder. Agent Morales entered on duty with the U.S. Border Patrol on February 18, 2008, as a member of the 749th session of the Border Patrol Academy, and was assigned to the Ysleta Station in the El Paso Sector. Agent Morales served with the United States Border Patrol for over 9 years. 2021 Juan M. Urrutia Date of Birth: July 28, 1975 Entered on Duty: August 4, 2003 Title: Border Patrol Agent End of Watch: May 28, 2021 Details: Agent Urrutia entered on duty on August 4, 2003, as part of the 560th Session of the Border Patrol Academy. He was first assigned to the Falfurrias Station in what was then called the McAllen 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. At the time of his passing, he was assigned to the Brownsville Station, Rio Grande Valley Sector, Texas. He was also a certified EMT/Paramedic. He is survived by his wife: Shayla Lee Urrutia; Brothers: Martin J. Urrutia, Carlos Urrutia, David Urrutia: and his sisters; Juvita Urrutia and Maria Barron-Urrutia.
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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
February 2025
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