This week in USBP History, Vol. 6

October 10 - October 16

1918

• This memo written on October 15, 1918, by Frank Berkshire (The Father of the Border Patrol), details the conditions, attitudes and difficulties along the Southwest border after the implementation of laws and regulations were passed regarding aliens crossing the border.  From Berkshire's perspective, the creation of a "Border Patrol" was the solution to enforcing those laws and regulations. 

1927

• On October 11, 1927, Chief Patrol Inspector Grey of the Houlton Sub-district writes his boss, the Commissioner of Immigration for the Montreal District, explaining the need to have 5 men assigned to each of the subdistrict's stations (Calais, Vanceboro, Houlton and Fort Fairfield).  He also, takes the opportunity to request additional equipment. Also, noteworthy in the memo that CPI Grey's does not identify his AOR as a "Sub-district #1" but as "Patrol District #1".  That is contrary to the naming convention order in General Order 61 in 1926.
• On October 12, 1927, Chief Patrol Inspector Thomas of the Massena Sub-district also writes his boss, the Commissioner of Immigration for the Montreal District.  Based on this document, it is evident that he and CPI Grey were responding to a memo from their boss.  This memo, CPI Thomas describes the manpower and AOR of the sub-district's four stations (Fort Covington, Massena, Morristown, and Depauville).  Further, CPI recommends and provides his justifications for opening another station at Hogansburg, NY.  Like CPI Grey above, CPI Thomas does not use the naming convention mandated by General Order 61.
• On November 29, 1927, the 12th Supplement to General Order 10 was issued.  This policy was created in the attempt to compel aliens who were released during removal proceedings and granted permission a voluntary return, to actually leave the United States.  this was to be done by withholding the alien's documents and returning the documents as the alien departed the country at a POE.

1928

• On July 3, 1928, the 13th Supplement to General Order 10 was issued.  This document authorized aliens to voluntarily depart as as crewmen.

1930

• This PDF contains two memos and a sworn statement detailing a brief exchange of gunfire that occurred on October 16, 1930, between Border Patrol Inspectors and alcohol smugglers in El Paso, TX.

1943

• On October 13, 1943, John Nelson (acting Chief of the Border Patrol) wrote his boss, Willard Kelly (the previous Chief of the Border Patrol) a memo explaining the reasons that 143 of 253 Border Patrol Inspectors had left employment (18 were terminated and 125 resigned).  Very interesting about this memo is that it clearly shows that Willard Kelly had promoted above Chief of the Border Patrol and that John Nelson (who was the Director of the Border Patrol Academy) had been temporally promoted to Chief of the Border Patrol.​

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Newton-Azrak Award Actions

​1980

Myron Merchant
Border Patrol Agent
Swanton, Vermont
On October 14, 1979 at approximately 10:30 p.m. a call was received by Border Patrol Agents at Rouses Point, New York that two men were walking in a sparsely populated rural area south on Cannon Corners Road near Mooers Forks, New York.  Border Patrol Agent (BPA) Myron Merchant and another agent responded to the call.  BPA Merchant took a surveillance position at the intersection of Cannon Corners Road and Route 11.  Soon afterwards, BPA Merchant saw two men walking a short distance from his location.  Suddenly the men ran into the woods. BPA Merchant notified the other agent by radio of the circumstances and followed the suspects into the woods.  About fifty feet from the road BPA Merchant came under close range gunfire. One shot struck him in the upper abdomen, knocking him to the ground.  One of the assailants walked toward him and raised his weapon in an apparent attempt to kill him.  BPA Merchant instinctively rolled on the ground as the assailant fired narrowly missing him.  BPA Merchant drew his weapon and returned the gunfire, killing the assailant. While seriously wounded, BPA Merchant marked the position of the dead man with his flashlight and then crawled on his back to the road where he was met by the agent he had earlier radioed.
 
During the gunfire the second man fled.  He was captured later at a New York State Police roadblock in Mooers, New York.  BPA Merchant’s ability and presence of mind to be able to give a description of the second man greatly contributed to his capture. The two men were later identified as two escapees who had been charged with murdering a Montreal, Quebec police officer and seriously wounding two other officers of that city.  BPA Merchant’s actions that evening reflect his great personal courage and presence of mind during an emergency life and death situation.

2003

Robert H. Arnold Jr.
Senior Patrol Agent
El Paso Sector
Herbert L. Williams
Supervisory Border Patrol Agent
El Paso Sector
Senior Patrol Agent Robert H. Arnold Jr. and Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Herbert L. Williams were recognized for their acts of bravery and heroism during the pursuit of a narcotics load vehicle after it illegally entered the U.S. with 1,900 pounds of marijuana.  
 
On October 12, 2002, Agent Arnold and his partner Border Patrol Agent Valerie Jaramillo pursued a narcotics load vehicle back to the Rio Grande River after it had entered the United States illegally. This occurred approximately 27 miles east of the Ft. Hancock, Texas Port of Entry.  
 
The driver abandoned the vehicle (containing 1,900 pounds of marijuana) and crossed back into Mexico. The driver, along with several other armed assailants, began shooting into the United States at these agents.  Agents Arnold and Jaramillo were ambushed and came under heavy gunfire.  Agent Jaramillo was shot in the leg and the same bullet narrowly missed Agent Arnold.  Additional rounds struck the engine compartment and battery, disabling their vehicle.  
 
Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Herbert L. Williams entered the area as back up and took heavy fire.  Agent Arnold returned fire from cover.  Agent Williams positioned his vehicle in the line of fire to provide additional cover so that Agent Jaramillo could be extracted safely.  Agents in self-defense of the heavy automatic gunfire fired over 240 rounds.  Agent Arnold removed Agent Jaramillo to Agent Williams vehicle and then left the scene to meet with a medical helicopter.  Agent Williams provided cover fire as they left the area, at which time they were continuing to take heavy fire from Mexico.  Agent Williams was able to safely get out of the line of fire and Agent Jaramillo subsequently recovered from her gunshot wound.