This Week in USBP History, Vol. 38

May 22 - May 28

Good 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:

• Why was the U.S. Border Patrol created?
  • Hint - It wasn't created to enforce Prohibition or to prevent the entry of enemy aliens.
• Was Jefferson Davis Milton the first Border Patrol Inspector?
  • Hint - He was neither a Border Patrol Inspector nor in the Border Patrol. (Sorry Rodney W.)
•  Which was the first sector?
  • Hint - The Border Patrol began not with 1 but with 32 sub-districts (sectors).  Detroit and El Paso were just 2 of the 32.  Detroit and El Paso weren't first, they were among the 32 firsts.
• Which ​was the first USBP station?
  • The Border Patrol did not have a "first" station.  When funding was received in 1924, all USBP actions and activities started simultaneously nationwide. Sorry again Detroit and El Paso.
• Why is the El Paso Station called "Station One"?
  • Hint - 1926's General Order 61 originated a numbering system whose tradition is carried on best in Laredo Sector today (not because it was the first station).
• What is the origin of the slogan, "Where the Legend Began"?
  • Hint - Look no further than David Ham, the President of the Border Patrol Museum and a retired Assistant Chief Patrol Agent. 

Of course, there's much more on the HonorFirst USBP History Page.

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 attach them to a reply to this email).
• 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.
• I also send out a weekly This Week in USBP History ​email.  If you'd like to be added to the list, email me at Cliff@honorfirst.com.​

---

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 - 

• 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 attach them to a reply to this email).
• 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.
• I also send out a weekly This Week in USBP History ​email.  If you'd like to be added to the list, email me at Cliff@honorfirst.com.

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.

• In one of the entries, I erroneously listed George Harris' lifespan as "1976-1941".  It should have been 1876-1941.

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.

---

Documents/Events

1906

• On May 23, 1906, a document was approved that defined the pay of the eleven positions in the Bureau of Immigration.  

1922

• On May 27, 1922, the Commissioner-General wrote a short letter to future Chief and Father of the Border Patrol Frank Berkshire (1870-1934).  The letter concerning a "conference on cooperation in border work".  
  
  • The Commissioner-General references Berkshire's April 13, 1922, memo concerning the suggestion of merging aspects of the Customs Service with the Immigration Service. In that memo, Berkshire gave his opinion of the proposed merge, dividing his answer into two parts, administrative and patrolling functions.  Berkshire did not support merging customs and immigration inspection functions (which would occur in 2003 under CBP/OFO).  However, he did support merging all federal border patrol functions under one organization.

1924

• The Bureau of Immigration received funding from Public Law 68-153, an approved appropriations bill (page 240), on May 28, 1924.  This document did not create the Border Patrol but funded the Bureau of Immigration to increase the "land-border patrol" functions of which were already being performed.  The Bureau of Immigration used the funding to create the Immigration Border Patrol, a concept that had been introduced as early as 1914 as per this document.
  
  • Documents haven discovered that indicate that the concept of a Border Patrol was conceived and proposed by Supervising Inspector Frank W. Berkshire in response to the growing problem of aliens circumventing the ports-of-entry and illegally entering the United States. That article describes how Frank Berkshire presented proposal after proposal to create a Border Patrol and is the genesis story of the U.S. Border Patrol.  Frank Berkshire would later become one of the Chiefs of the Border Patrol, 1932-1933. 
    
  • Concerning the strength of the Border Patrol, the 1925 Commissioner-General’s Report to the Secretary of Labor​ stated :
    
    • A thorough survey of the situation was immediately undertaken, and it was decided that a force of at least 500 men, including officers in charge, would be required to form the nucleus of the organization. After careful analysis it was apparent that the appropriation available would not permit of equipping and maintaining, even at the minimum salary of $1,680 per annum for patrol inspectors, a force of more than 450 employees, and this was the number decided upon.

1928

• On May 25, 1928, Nicholas Donald “Nick” Collaer (1896-1977) authored a letter recommending that Patrol Inspector Harry V. Ellis not receive a promotion to Chief Patrol Inspector due to Ellis' lack of initiative.  Ellis is listed in a December 1929, roster (page 16) as a Senior Patrol Inspector.
  
  • Nick Collaer would be the 7th Chief of the Border Patrol (1948-1950).
• On May 26, 1928, a report was written concerning a shooting that occurred in the Big Bend Sub-district involving Patrol Inspector Shellie Guy Barnes (1896-1964), a U.S. Customs office and an alcohol smuggler.

1929

• On May 23, 1929, El Paso District Director Grover Wilmoth (1884-1951) wrote a memo to the Commissioner-General requesting rank and time-in-service fabric.  The fabric was controlled by the Central Office (HQ).  See this page for a deeper dive on the Border Patrol's early rank and time-in-service insignia. A few notes of interest, the memo references:
  
  • The General Order 42, the Border Patrol's first uniform policy, and
    
  • The supplements to General Order 42. 

1942

• On May 28, 1942, El Paso District Director Grover Wilmoth (1884-1951) wrote a memo informing the Central Office that he had approved uniforms for temporary guards that were similar to the Border Patrol "rough duty" uniform. 

---

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​

​
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

• 3 Mounted Watchmen fell before 1924 and are carried as Border Patrol fallen
• 48 Border Patrol Inspectors fell between 1924 and 1970
• 100 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.

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.

• 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 - He is not recognized as officially fallen by Customs and Border Protection or the U.S. Border Patrol. He is remembered by all except his own agency as his name is inscribed on 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).

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.