This Week in USBP History, Vol. 45

July 10 - July 16

Good morning!
 
Welcome to another This Week in USBP History!

Today I want to highlight fellow USBP historian, Joseph Banco. I have given him a permanent section that he shares with the Border Patrol Museum near the bottom of these emails.  I must admit, I'm not so sure I'd place myself on par with him. Joe is an absolute professional when it comes to researching and writing about USBP history.  Whereas my blog and emails highlight a document, may have sub-bullets giving greater context, and provide a steady trickle of weekly USBP history...  Joe has collected hundreds upon hundreds of documents and has used them to author the finest books on USBP history available, offing a vast ocean of information from the most reliable sources.  If you haven't already, please visit and explore his website at - www.migrajoe.com​ and visit the Border Patrol Museum's Gift Shop to purchase his books.

On to this week's blog!

There are only six documents in this week's update. But one of them is pretty impactful to Border Patrol folklore concerning Jefferson Davis Milton.  Also, I have listed the historic and modern locations of the Border Patrol Academy (make sure you click on the Camp Chigas link to see where the building would be located today).

Finally, realizing the limits of my research, I am working to expand and incorporate other, quality sources of USBP history so that these weekly blogs and emails will include even more USBP events.

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.

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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

​1931

• On July 15, 1931, in an ongoing correspondence with the National Rifle Association (NRA), Commissioner-General Harry E. Hull (1864-1938) sent a response of appreciation.  
  • Of note in the correspondence is the mention of an article in the NRA's American Riflemen magazine concerning a shooting match between the sub-districts within the El Paso District.  Go to page 37 in this link​ to see the article.
    • I believe that the article is referencing this:  On July 5, 1934, the Acting District Director of the El Paso District wrote a memo to the Commissioner-General touting the successes of the the El Paso and Marfa Sub-district shooting teams.  The memo provide the scores of a competition between the two sub-districts where Marfa was the winner.

1932

• On July 15, 1932, El Paso District Director Grover W. Wilmoth (1884-1951) sent a memo concerning the retirement of the famed Jefferson Davis Milton (1861-1947).  The last page in the of the five documents​ outlines his federal career.  Debunking decades of Border Patrol folklore, the outline clearly shows that Milton was neither a Patrol Inspector nor a member of the Border Patrol:
  • Mounted Inspector - March 1887 - October 1889
  • Chinese Inspector - April 1904 - November 1913
  • Immigrant Inspector - December 1913 - June 1932

1933

• On July 14, 1933, Irving F. Wixon (1884-1962) wrote a memo to the Jacksonville District Director, not only giving permission for Patrol Inspectors to participate in local shooting competitions, but encouraging their participation.  By Wixon's response, the District Director was concerned that by competing, Patrol Inspectors may indiscriminately use their firearms.  See the quote below (emphasis added):
  • It is believed that the participation of the patrol officers in an affair of this kind promotes good relations between the Patrol Service and the peace authorities of Florida, and that such participation will not encourage the indiscriminate use of firearms on their part, of which you appear to be apprehensive. After all, patrol officers are furnished firearms for the purpose of self-defense and in cases of extreme emergency, and there would seem to be no reason why they should not be encouraged to become proficient in the use of firearms. Under the circumstances, the Bureau approves of the officers participating in the meet.

1934

• On July 11, 1934, Chief Patrol Inspector Joseph L. Van Orshoven (1893-1987) of the Chula Vista Sub-district, wrote a memo​ to the Los Angeles District Director disapproving the wearing of a rough duty uniform by Patrol Inspectors in the district.
  • The second page of the document contains a photo of on of the earlier examples of a USBP rough duty uniform.
  • The memo also mentions Chief Patrol Inspector Herbert Clifford “Herb” Gerrish (1896-1976).

1955

• On July 15, 1955, the Attorney General wrote a letter to the Speaker of the House concerning a bill to fund the purchase and construction of a new Border Patrol Training facility.  At the time of the writing, Patrol Inspectors were being training in buildings located in Fort Bliss that had been constructed 15 years earlier and abandoned by the U.S. Army.
  • The “Academy” has been located in 9 different cities.​
    1. El Paso, TX
    ​​     * Camp Chigas​ 
              - Unnumbered classes, 193​6-40
              - Class 1 (1940) – Class 44 (July 1951)
              - Class 48 & 49 (1953), 53 (1954), 57 (1955)​
         * Radford School ​Class 54
    ​     * Logan Heights area of the Ft. Bliss
    ​          - Class 55, 58-77 (1954-61)
    ​​2. Mesilla, NM (1951-1952)
    ​​     * Class 45 – Class 46 
    ​3. McAllen, TX (1952-54)
    ​​      * Class 47, 50-52
    ​4. Los Fresnos, TX (Port Isabel) (1962-67, 1968-77)
    ​​     * Class 78-89
         * Class 91-113
    ​5. Calexico, CA and Chula Vista, CA  (1967-68)
    ​     * Only Class 90
    6. Glynco (1977-2004)
    ​​     * Class 114-578
    ​7. Ft. McClellan, Alabama (1988)
    ​​     * Class 226, the Alabama 500
    8. Charleston, SC (1996-2004)
    ​​     * Class 315-582
    ​​9. Artesia, New Mexico (2004 - 
    ​​​​     * Class 583- 

1956

• ​As an example of a routine personnel transfer, on July 11, 1956, Acting Assistant Commission of the Enforcement Division Harlon Carter (1913-1991​) authorized the transfer of Border Patrol Inspector Stanley E. Gillis (1924-1972)
  • Harlon Carter was Chief of the Border Patrol 1950-1957 and the first Chief to have graduated from the Academy (photo).
  • Patrol Inspector Gillis would transfer to the U.S. Customs Service where he would remain until his untimely death at the age of 48 in 1972.

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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

​1997
Guadalupe Chacon
Senior Patrol Agent 
San Diego Sector
Elizabeth M. Ebisuzaki
Border Patrol Agent
San Diego Sector
On July 16, 1997, Senior Patrol Agent Guadalupe Chacon and Border Patrol Agent Elizabeth Ebisuzaki had initiated an immigration stop on a car.  The car failed to yield and the pursuit was terminated.  A few moments later, the vehicle was found on the shoulder of the road.  As the agents pulled over, several people fled from the car into the heavy brush. After returning to the car with apprehensions, the agents noticed smoke coming from the engine compartment.  They were then informed that there were four people locked in the trunk.  
 
Flames and acrid smoke quickly filled that passenger compartment.  Agent Ebisuzaki attempted to fight the fire and open the trunk with a crowbar.  Simultaneously, Agent Chacon was able to pry off the back seat and rescue the four from the trunk.

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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.

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 - 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 with 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).

1989

​David F. Roberson
Date of Birth:                January 9, 1941
Entered on Duty:          April 11, 1966
Title:                              Air Operation Supervisor
End of Watch:               July 14, 1989
 
Details:
On July 14, 1989, Pilot David F. Roberson departed the Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma, Arizona, at 5:50 a.m., in Service aircraft N29162. Shortly after takeoff, he responded to a request for assistance in the Yuma freight yards where Border Patrol units were conducting freight train check operations. At 6:10 a.m., Pilot Roberson departed the freight yard area and proceeded south to County 23rd and Avenue 2E to assist ground units in working a trail of three aliens.
 
Upon arrival, Pilot Roberson commenced “sign cutting” while maintaining radio contact with Senior Patrol Agent David Ramirez and Patrol Agent Rosendo Guillen, who were working in the immediate area on the trail. At 6:24 a.m., Pilot Roberson stalled the aircraft and crashed. The aircraft was destroyed by the impact and post-crash fire.  Pilot Roberson died instantly.
Gravesite​
 

2020

Enrique J. Rositas, Jr.
Date of Birth:                June 3, 1967                              
Entered on Duty:          September 8, 1997
Title:                             Border Patrol Agent 
End of Watch:               July 11, 2020
 
Details: 
Border Patrol Agent Enrique Rositas Jr. passed away on July 11, 2020.  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.  Agent Rositas will be remembered for his diligent service to the nation and for his bravery in the face of danger.
 
BPA Rositas was assigned to the McAllen Station, Rio Grande Valley Sector, where he served as a primary field training officer, collateral duty safety officer, certified ATV rider, a member of the Horse Patrol Unit, and vice-president of the McAllen Station Morale, Welfare and Recreation Association. He began his career with the United States Border Patrol on September 8, 1997 after serving nearly 12 years in the United States Air Force attaining the rank of staff sergeant. 
 
During his nearly 23-year career, BPA Rositas was known to many as "the very essence of what a USBP agent should be," and "was a loving husband and father who often spoke about his kids with such pride and joy."
 
BPA Rositas is survived by his wife and two children.
​Gravesite