This Week in USBP History, Vol. 11

November 14 - November 20

As a reminder, my weekly updates will include three main sections:

1. Historic events supported by documents primarily collected from the National Archives
2. Newton-Azrak Award Actions
3. USBP Fallen

I hope that this information will help drive organizational pride, primarily by the recipients (you) using it to create IDS slides, email blasts, internal web postings, social media posts, etc…  It should go without mentioning, but other great sources of information are the BP Museum and Joe Banco’s books (USBP History Vol 1 and USBP History Vol 2).

These blogs are not meant to be controversial, harassing or otherwise negative.  However, infrequently, I will include suggestions as they come up. 

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USBP History

​1905

• On November 16, 1905, Jefferson Davis Milton was appointed as a Chinese Inspector by the Assistant Secretary of Labor. It should be noted that as per documents that supported Jeff Milton's retirement in 1932, he was neither a Border Patrol Inspector nor a member of the Border Patrol.  It is believed that he was a well-known law enforcement officer in the El Paso District, which encompasses modern day Tucson, El Paso and Big Bend Sectors.  It is thought that the leaders of the newly formed Border Patrol used Jeff Milton's rugged independence as an example for new inspectors to follow.  This led to him mistakenly being considered the first Border Patrol Inspector.

1918

• On November 14, 1918, George Harris (who would serve two non-consecutive terms as "Chief" of the Border Patrol") wrote a memo to the Commissioner-General stating that officers to should have greater discretion concerning pursuing criminal charges against those who violated the Passport Act and regulations.  Interestingly, his signature block lists him as the "Acting Supervising Inspector" of the Mexican Border District, a position held permanently by Frank Berkshire, the Father of the Border Patrol and the third person to have been Chief of the Border Patrol.

1928

• On November 18, 1928, officers assigned to the Norwich University, Vermont wrote a letter to William Husband who was formerly the Commissioner-General of Immigration and the current Assistant Secretary of the Department of Labor.  The letter mentions a "Spanish book used by inspectors at Texas border", which indicates early an initiative to train USBP employees.
• On November 18, 1928, Border Patrol Inspector Ivan Scotten was involved in a brief gunfight in El Paso, Texas.  This document provides a brief description of the shooting.  
  • Inspector Scotten would be killed (shot) in the line of duty about 8 months later on July 20, 1929.  Please see this historic photograph of the scene of the shooting where Scotten fell. 

1929

• On November 19, 1929, El Paso District Director Grover Wilmoth issued a warning to all employees concerning "...useless and harmful talk...".  This warning covered modern-day Tucson, El Paso and Big Bend Sectors.  It warned of recommendations for a "drastic punishment" and "no leniency" for violations!

1930

• On November 29, 1930, District Director Thomas Kirk of the Jacksonville District, sent a manpower report to the Commissioner-General.  The report shows the Border Patrol strength and locations in the district.  The district had three sub-districts (sectors), Jacksonville, Miami, and Tampa.

1937

• On November 18, 1937, a windbreaker jacket was authorized for wear.

1956

•  On November 15, 1956, what is believed to be the USBP's 4th uniform policy was enacted.  It is believed that another policy which has never been located was issued in the 1940s.  The policy included:
  • Having both official and rough duty uniforms is mandatory
  • Overseas cap authorized for pilots
  • Military ribbons authorized on uniform
  • Shoulder ornaments are symbols of rank
    • Gold – Chief Patrol Inspectors
    • Silver – Assistant Chief Patrol Inspectors
    • Oxidized – Senior Patrol Inspectors
  • Eisenhower Jackets authorized for all until 1958, then only for pilots.  Must be buttoned. This is also the earliest reference to the jacket so far located.

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​Newton-Azrak Award Actions

None for the week

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USBP Fallen

Ned D. Henderson
Date of Birth:                      December 19, 1905
Entered on Duty:                December 26, 1929
Title:                                   Autogiro Pilot
End of Watch:                    November 18, 1945

​Details:
Ned D. Henderson, Autogiro Pilot, died on November 18, 1945, from injuries he received two days earlier when the autogiro he was piloting crashed near Sullivan City, Texas. Pilot Henderson was enroute to his official station at McAllen, Texas, following a detail to San Antonio. He was alone in the plane when it crashed at about 1:00 p.m., November 16, 1945.
 
A witness to the accident, Mr. Francisco Flores, stated that he noticed the aircraft coming from the west just before or about the time it hit an electric highline. The autogiro hit the ground and turned over about two times before it came to rest. Mr. Flores stopped his truck and ran over to the aircraft. He rushed over to Pilot Henderson, who was rolling on the ground just outside of the autogiro, his clothes and gloves on fire. Mr. Flores extinguished the flames and then improvised a shade from a blanket he had in his truck. Pilot Henderson was later removed to the McAllen Municipal Hospital by ambulance.
 
A physician's certificate indicates that Pilot Henderson suffered extensive burns about the face, neck, arms and legs; fracture of the right arm below the shoulder; and a deep cut across the forehead and right cheek. Death occurred at 1:30 a.m., November 18, 1945, about 36 hours after the accident.​


James M. Kirchner
Date of Birth:                December 15, 1931
Entered on Duty:          November 3, 1954
Title:                              Patrol Inspector (Trainee)
End of Watch:               November 15, 1954
 
Details:
While waiting to attend a training session at the Border Patrol Academy that was scheduled to commence in December, Trainee Kirchner and other new appointees were assigned to work with older and more experienced officers in and around El Paso.
 
On November 15, 1954, Trainee Kirchner was assigned to work the 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. with Inspector Dove. Trainee Kirchner saw three persons coming from the direction of Mexico. The persons were up in the hills and estimated to be about 1/2 mile away. Inspector Dove and Trainee Kirchner proceeded on foot, separating.  Inspector Dove intercepted the suspects and determined that they were of Mexican extraction and citizens of the United States. Trainee Kirchner was observed near the top of the hill and instructed, through hand signals, to return.  During the descent, Trainee Kirchner was out of the view of Inspector Dove. When Trainee Kirchner did not return in a reasonable time and did not respond to being called, Inspector Dove began searching for him. Trainee Kirchner was found slumped to the ground, face forward. After a hurried examination, Inspector Dove applied artificial respiration in an effort to revive Trainee Kirchner but was unsuccessful. Leaving one of the citizens with the body. Inspector Dove went to the McNutt Oil Refinery and called Border Patrol Headquarters. He then returned to the scene and waited until Trainee Kirchner's body was removed.


David Gomez
Date of Birth                 November 7, 1972
Entered on Duty:          February 12, 1996
Title:                              Border Patrol Agent
End of Watch:               November 16, 2016
 
Details:
On November 15, 2016, Agent Gomez suffered a heart attack while on bicycle patrol duty near El Paso, Texas. He subsequently passed away at a local hospital on November 16, 2016.

Border Patrol Agent Gomez was assigned to the El Paso Station of the El Paso Sector. He entered on duty on February 12, 1996, as a member of Border Patrol Academy Class 299.


Rogelio Martinez
Date of Birth                 January 15, 1981
Entered on Duty:          August 12, 2013
Title:                              Border Patrol Agent
End of Watch:               November 19, 2017
 
Details:
On November 18, 2017, Border Patrol Agent Rogelio Martinez was patrolling along Interstate 10 in a remote area outside of Van Horn, Texas, when fellow agents were alerted that he and another agent were in distress.  When fellow agents located Agent Martinez, he was unresponsive and severely injured.  Agent Martinez was taken to the local hospital in Van Horn and later transported to a medical center in El Paso, Texas, where he succumbed to his injuries on November 19, 2017.  The circumstances surrounding the death of Agent Martinez are still being investigated.
 
Agent Martinez entered on duty with the U.S. Border Patrol on August 12, 2013, as a member of the 1018th session of the Border Patrol Academy, and he was assigned to the Van Horn Station in the Big Bend Sector.  Agent Martinez served with the United States Border Patrol for over 4 years.
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As of November 11, 2021, the U.S. Border Patrol has suffered 149* fallen.
Titles

• 3 Mounted Watchmen fell before 1924 and are carried as Border Patrol fallen
• 48 Border Patrol Inspectors fell between 1924 and 1970
• 97 Border Patrol Agents have fallen since 1970
• 1 Enforcement Analysis Specialist

* With the exception of two of the fallen 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.