This Week in USBP History, Vol. 103

August 20 - August 26

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Intro

Good Morning!

Welcome to another This Week in USBP History!

Ray Harris
A Legacy of Service, Innovation, Fellowship, and Community Building

Former Supervisory Border Patrol Agent and Retired Immigration Special Agent Ray Harris

Senior Patrol Agent Ray Harris

The week of August 20-26, 2023, is a fitting time to reflect on the legacy of Retired Immigration Special Agent Ray Harris. This week not only commemorates the 25th anniversary of his innovative Delphi forums but also celebrates a pioneering effort that transformed the landscape of communication within the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP). Harris's creation of two distinct forums—one dedicated to Border Patrol applicants and the other to current and former agents—served as more than a mere platform. It became a virtual meeting ground that not only facilitated the unofficial engagement with potential recruits but also nurtured a sense of camaraderie and community among those who have worn, and continue to wear the badge. His vision, still resonant today, continues to honor the principles of connection and unity that are at the heart of the USBP's mission

A Life of Service

Ray Harris, a native of Columbia, South Carolina, has dedicated his life to service, education, and innovation. A 13-year veteran of the United States Marine Corps, Harris's academic achievements include degrees in Political Science, Business Administration, and Criminal Justice.

His career with the USBP began in 1980 with Class 139, spanning 17 years and five different stations. After retiring from federal service in 2002, Harris continued to make an impact, receiving the USBP Commendation Medal in 2020 for his exceptional achievements during retirement.

USBP Commendation Medal

Innovation in Recruitment and Community Building:
​The Creation of HonorFirst.com and Delphi Forums

In the mid-1990s, Harris recognized a gap in information about the USBP's hiring process. He created a simple website, leading to an overwhelming response from applicants. To manage the flood of inquiries, Harris turned to Delphi forums, launching the first forum for Border Patrol Agents on August 25, 1998.

These forums evolved into platforms not only for assistance in the hiring process but also for current and former agents to share information, ideas, and engage in fellowship. The Agent's Forum and Applicant's Forum became instrumental in building a sense of community within the USBP.

HonorFirst.com grew to assist Border Patrol recruiting, accumulating over 48,000 members and 3.7 million visitors. Recognizing the need for further enhancement, Ray brought in assistance to expand the site, making it a valuable resource for those interested in the USBP.

A Longtime Member and Supporter of FORBPO

Ray's influence within the Border Patrol community reaches far and wide. As a former Supervisory Border Patrol Agent, his innovative creation of Delphi forums has been a landmark achievement. Yet, his contributions don't end there. Ray continues to lend his expertise to the Fraternal Order of Retired Border Patrol Officers (FORBPO), where he once served as a webmaster and still provides invaluable behind-the-scenes assistance. His unwavering commitment to both active and retired Border Patrol professionals is evident in every aspect of his work. Whether through fostering online engagement or his steadfast support of FORBPO, Ray's multifaceted involvement underscores a willingness to contribute in various capacities. His enduring legacy is a beacon of community and collaboration that inspires all who serve.

A Lasting Impact

Ray Harris's legacy is a testament to innovation, dedication, fellowship, and community building. His creation of HonorFirst.com and the Delphi forums has had a profound impact on U.S. Border Patrol recruitment efforts and has fostered a sense of camaraderie among agents.

Ray's efforts have brought great credit upon himself and have benefited the U.S. Border Patrol in immeasurable ways. As we celebrate the anniversary of the Delphi forums, we honor Ray Harris's enduring contributions to the USBP, FORBPO, and the broader community.

!!! Thank you Ray !!!

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This week, we journey through the multifaceted history of the U.S. Border Patrol. We'll explore the 1921 debate over unifying federal agencies along the Mexican border, the 1935 request to build a fence in Nogales, Arizona, and the 1942 memos concerning 12-hour workdays for Patrol Inspectors. These highlights, and much more, deepen our understanding of the Border Patrol's evolution and legacy.

This week, we honor Criminal Investigator Lee R. Prejean for his courageous and selfless efforts in 1987 as part of Operation Castoron. His undercover activities led to the successful conclusion of a large-scale conspiracy investigation, demonstrating unusual courage and competence.

During this week, we take a moment to reflect, as there are no line-of-duty death anniversaries. Let us continue to remember and honor all those who have served.

Enjoy and have a great week!

​Cliff
P.S. - 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 send them to cliff@honorfirst.com). As always, make sure to explore all of the hyperlinks to the 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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THROWBACK PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Guardians of the Border
​A Legacy in Flight

Taken around 2003, this striking image showcases five Eurocopter AS350 AStar helicopters, proudly bearing U.S. Border Patrol branding. A symbol of a bygone era, these aircraft embody decades of pride, tradition, and a unique connection between air and ground agents. Before taking to the skies, Border Patrol pilots were required to serve as regular agents for three years, forging a bond that transcended their roles. In 2006, all USBP pilots were absorbed into CBP's Air and Marine Operations, marking the end of an era but leaving behind a legacy that continues to resonate.

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DOCUMENTS AND EVENTS

1921

• On August 25, 1921, Secretary of Agriculture Henry Cantwell Wallace (1866-1924) wrote a letter to Secretary of Labor James John Davis (1873-1947).  The letter explained his non-concurrence to a suggestion that the federal agencies performing law enforcement duties along the Mexican border operate under a single administrative officer.
• On August 26, 1921, Secretary of the Treasury Andrew Mellon (1855-1937) wrote a letter to Secretary of Labor James John Davis (1873-1947).  The letter explained his non-concurrence to a suggestion that the federal agencies performing law enforcement duties along the Mexican border operate under a single administrative officer.  Further, this letter identified the six federal agencies that performed law enforcement duties while patrolling the Mexican border:
  • Public Health Service
  • Coast Guard
  • Customs Service
  • Prohibition Enforcement Service
  • Federal Horticultural Board
  • Immigration Service

1931

• On August 21, 1931, Jacksonville District Director Thomas V. Kirk (1862-1947) wrote a memo to the Commissioner-General, reporting the shooting scores for the following employees:
  • Patrol Inspector Edwin M. Redmond (1901-1968)
  • Patrol Inspector Frank Hornyak (1904-1963)
  • Patrol Inspector Robert B. Johnson (1900-1973)
    • After diligently researching historic records and Ancestry.com, I am confident that the person that typed the memo made an error with Inspector Johnson's middle initial.  It should be a "B", not an "F".

1935

• On August 26, 1935, the Immigration and Naturalization Service drafted a request for $214,227 to build a, "Concrete and steel fence, 5 miles long, at International Boundary, in and adjacent to the town of Nogales, Arizona, to prevent illegal entry and the smuggling of goods into the United States."
  • My research neither uncovered if the funding was approved nor if the fence built due to the request.

1942 - A special thanks to Joe Banco for sharing the documents for the entries below.

• On August 26, 1942, El Paso District Directer Grover W. Wilmoth (1884-1951) wrote a memo to Chief of the Border Patrol Willard F. Kelly (1903-1969) concerning an earlier phone call that they had.  In that phone call, Chief Kelly had suggested that Patrol Inspectors work 12-hour days.  Director Wilmoth did not believe it to be a good idea and forwarded the three documents below with his memo:
  • On August 22, 1942, Tucson Chief Patrol Inspector Carson Morrow (1896-1959) wrote a memo against the suggestion that Patrol Inspectors be required to work 12-hour days. He began his memo:
    • You are respectfully informed that it seems to me that we might make our personnel situation worse than it is by requiring every officer to perform twelve hours duty each day with no time off.
  • On August 23, 1942, El Paso Chief Patrol Inspector Griffith J. McBee (1896-1972) wrote a memo against the suggestion that Patrol Inspectors be required to work 12-hour days. He began his memo:
    • You are respectfully advised that I am not in favor of the plan mentioned in your above numbered communication which would require patrol officers of the El Paso Subdistrict to perform a twelve hour tour of duty on each work day and holiday, eliminate all lieu time, and decrease the amount of annual leave permitted, unless the period of time officers will be required to work under these conditions is of short duration and definitely specified.
  • On August 24, 1942, Alpine Chief Patrol Agent Earl Fallis (1894-1977) wrote a memo​ supporting the suggestion that Patrol Inspectors be required to work 12-hour days. He began his memo: 
    • Referring to your above indicated letter, you are respectfully advised that the shortage of personnel in this subdistrict has reached the point that it is practically impossible to cover the sub-district as it should be, even with longer tours of duty, the elimination of lieu time and to decrease the amount of annual leave, however, by concentrating at the so-called "hot spots", and in following the plan outlined in your letter, it seems to the writer to be the only method which can be pursued at this time.

1956

• As part of the deterrent effort and interior repatriation program, the INS and U.S. Border Patrol implemented a “Boatlift” from Port Isabel, Texas to Tampico and Veracruz, Mexico beginning in 1953. The Boatlift was terminated in part due to a disturbance aboard the S.S. Mercurio on August 23, 1956, when 36 Mexicans jumped overboard as the vessel was anchored three to four miles off-shore of Tampico, Mexico, due to engine trouble.
  • From - HONOR FIRST:  The Story of the United States Border Patrol - Volume II by Joseph Banco

​1998

• On August 25, 1998, Ray Harris launched the first Delphi forum for Border Patrol Agents and former Agents which would last until February 29, 2020 and grow to more than 7,000 members. It all started with this kick off message by Ray:
  • Well, thanks fer showin' up! The more the merrier, so let's get this puppy workin' by passing the word. Feel free to use ccmail. After all, as soon as the brass sees this, they are gonna take the credit for it!  Leave a message whether ya got anything to say or not. Let's just get it rolling!
  • I should note, Ray created a new forum immediately after closing the old one, which has a smaller, more active membership.
    • Agent's Forum Password Request​

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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

The USBP Newton-Azrak Award Scroll

This week, there are no known Newton-Azrak Award action anniversaries. However, some actions do not have a specific date, and I would like to take this opportunity to highlight one from 1987.
 
1987

Lee R. Prejean
Criminal Investigator
Seattle, Washington
Criminal Investigator Lee R. Prejean conducted undercover activities as part of Operation Castoron, which commenced as a marriage fraud investigation and grew into a visa fraud, smuggling, gunrunning, narcotics and terrorist investigation. Through his devoted and selfless efforts, he was able to infiltrate the large-scale conspiracy organization posing as a corrupt immigration officer. During the period of his undercover activities, he held hundreds of consensually monitored conversations, both telephonic and in person, with criminal elements involved in the investigation. He received pay-offs for alleged misconduct on his part, and was able to elicit the support and fidelity of the criminal principals in the case to such an extent that much valuable information was supplied to him willingly by these individuals which, in effect, led to the successful conclusion of this investigation. His involvement was so thorough that he placed a separate telephone and answering machine in his home in order that he might be available to the principals at any time.

Mr. Prejean demonstrated unusual courage and competence while in the line of duty and under very trying circumstances.

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U.S. BORDER PATROL FALLEN 
ANNIVERSARIES

U.S. Border Patrol Badge with a Mourning Band

As of March 6, 2023 the U.S. Border Patrol has suffered 155* fallen.
Titles

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

The following names hold a distinguished position, as they have made the ultimate sacrifice in their unwavering commitment to uphold the oath each officer took to protect and defend the United States of America.

The facts concerning each officer are presented with minimal editing to preserve the "language of the day" found in the original reports, providing readers with a sense of historical context.

In compliance with the Privacy Act of 1974, the cause of death for employees who lost their lives in the line of duty due to exposure to lethal illnesses will not be disclosed.

​* Please note that despite their deaths meeting the criteria for Line-of-Duty-Deaths at the time, Patrol Inspector Garvis Field Harrell and Border Patrol Agent John Charles Gigax are not officially recognized as fallen by either the Customs and Border Protection or the U.S. Border Patrol.  However, HonorFirst.com respectfully recognizes and includes both Inspector Harrell and Agent Gigax among those who have fallen in the line of duty.

There are no line-of-duty death anniversaries this week.