This Week in USBP History, Vol. 135

March 31 - April 6

Good morning!

Welcome to another This Week in USBP History! ​​​​​

In this week's "This Week in USBP History," we spotlight transformative events and acts of heroism in the U.S. Border Patrol. We start with March 31, 1926, marking Ruel Davenport’s tenure as the first Chief of the Border Patrol, alongside the impactful General Order 61, which revolutionized the Patrol's structure and operations.

This week also commemorates the extraordinary rescue efforts of William T. Veal, Chief Patrol Agent, during a perilous storm on April 1, 1999, and the bravery of Senior Patrol Agent Benjamin Sanford in a life-saving mission on April 2, 2001. We pay tribute to Patrol Inspectors like Joseph P. Riley, remembering their ultimate sacrifices, and salute the groundbreaking appointment of Lynne Underdown as the first female Border Patrol Agent in the Senior Executive Service on April 3, 2005.

As we revisit these key moments, we honor the steadfast commitment and valor of those who have defined the U.S. Border Patrol's legacy. Their stories are a testament to the enduring principles of duty, courage, and honor that continue to guide us.

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 [email protected]). 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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THIS WEEK'S USBP ANNIVERSARIES AND MILESTONES

March 31

• On March 31, 1926, Ruel Davenport (1878-1961) authored the earliest known memo signed as the Chief of the Border Patrol.  At the time, the position was called “Supervisor, Border Patrol”.  Davenport was the Chief for the Northern Border and George Harris (1876-1941) was the Chief for the Southern Border.

 
April 1

• On April 1, 1926, General Order 61 came into effect as per this memo.
  • General Order 61 is a foundational and arguably the most influential document in Border Patrol history, for the following reasons:
    • It contains one of the earliest known descriptions of the functions of the Border Patrol (GO 63 expanded on this) - The Border Patrol is an auxiliary branch of the regular Immigration Service.  The Patrol is established primarily to prevent and detect the surreptitious entry of aliens into the United States. It will however, aid in the enforcement of all federal laws designed to safeguard our country against the introduction of contraband. The Patrol will, in general, operate along and in the vicinity of the international and maritime borders of the United States. 
    • It created the hierarchal naming convention of calling a sub-district (modern-day sector) by both a number, and the city in which it was located. This document's concept is believed to have also been used for stations and is the genesis for El Paso Station being called “Station One” and Laredo Sector calling all their stations “Base #” to name two.  See the USBP History page, “Why is the El Paso Station called Station One?” section for more information - Each Patrol district will in turn be appropriately divided into subdistricts numbered consecutively, beginning with No. 1 in each district. 
    • It created an organizational framework that is recognizable today.
      • Supervisors (Border Patrol) – The term “Supervisors” in Border Patrol context refers to what we today call the Chief of the Border Patrol.  This was a non-uniformed position.
      • Officers in charge of districts – This was an extra title added on to the 11 heads of districts that had Border Patrol employees.  They were not Border Patrol employees but were in their chains of command.  Their official titles were either “District Director” or “Commissioner of Immigration”.
      • Assistant Superintendents - who shall be qualified immigrant inspectors – These were the ranking Border Patrol employees in a district.  There was only one per district.  Remember, a district was comprised of multiple sub-districts, modern-day sectors.  They were also the highest-ranking uniformed position in the USBP.
      • Chief Patrol Inspectors - who shall be qualified immigrant inspectors – They led sub-districts and the title is still used today with “Agent” instead of “Inspector.”
      • Senior Patrol Inspectors – This was a supervisory position between the Chief Patrol Inspector and Patrol Inspectors. The position had a one sentence position description (below) until this guidance was issued.  It is also the launching point of the 10-15 positions that exist between the modern-day Border Patrol Agent and Chief Patrol Agent. Senior Patrol Inspectors will perform such duties as may be assigned to them by the respective Chief Patrol Inspectors under whom they serve. 
      • Patrol Inspectors – will be expected to familiarize themselves with all federal statutes designed to prevent the unlawful entry of aliens and introduction of contraband. Law violators apprehended, together with any contraband seized by patrol inspectors, will be turned over to the appropriate law enforcement agencies, and proper receipt therefore, on Form 644, secured when delivery is made to other than immigration officers. They will be charged with the proper use and care of all Government equipment entrusted to them.
      • Clerks, and Motor Mechanics – USBP support personnel have been there since the beginning.
    • It created reports that both one and two patch agents may recognize:
      • The Daily Report – Form 650,
      • Receipts for Persons and Contraband – Form 644. They evolved to become the I-44 in the 1940s,
      • Weekly Reports – Form 643,
      • Monthly Reports.
• On April 1, 1935, Chief of the Border Patrol Willard Kelly (1903-1969) authored one of the earliest documents concerning construction of facilities for the USBP.  The USBP had always utilized existing structures for Border Patrol work.  This document proposed new construction for the first time.
• Newton-Azrak Award action anniversary
  • William T. Veal
    Chief Patrol Agent
    San Diego Sector
    On the night of April 1, 1999, eastern San Diego County experienced very low temperatures and unexpected snow during a fierce overnight storm, which left many illegal entrant aliens stranded and lost in the rugged mountainous terrain of the area.  Many of these people were in great peril of imminent death and at least seven others had already succumbed.
     
    After ensuring that Sector resources were mobilized to cope with this emergency, Chief Patrol Agent William T. Veal, in the early morning hours of April 2, responded by flying into service the Border Patrol’s heavy lift UH-1 helicopter.  Joined by the Patrol Agent in Charge of Air Operations, John D. Pool and Deputy Chief Patrol Agent Harold R. Beasley, he flew into very hazardous weather conditions to effect the rescue of stranded and hypothermic aliens.  During this time, Chief Veal rescued eight aliens who were hypothermic and in imminent danger of death.  The attending physician stated to rescue personnel that one of these individuals would have died had he not received medical attention within the hour.  Additionally, by flying through treacherous terrain in deteriorating weather conditions, while fighting low ceilings, clouds, and fog, Chief Veal inserted Border Patrol and San Diego County Search and Rescue teams into accessible areas to search for stranded aliens.  This included making landings in the same rugged terrain, at times with only one tip of a skid touching the ground.
     
    With no regard for his personal safety, Chief Veal continued search and rescue activities until he was assured that no additional aliens were in peril.  He flew a total of 6.9 hours with the only breaks being three brief refueling stops.

 
 
April 2

• On April 2, 1930, a gunfight occurred between Border Patrol Inspectors and alcohol smugglers where smuggler Lorenzo Galindo was fatally shot. This collection of documents describes the brief gunfight where a total of five shots were fired. Inspectors involved in the gunfight:
  • Senior Patrol Inspector Joseph F. Thomas
  • Patrol Inspector Tom P. Isbell (1905-1983), the link includes a photo of him in a USBP uniform.
• On April 2, 1953, Assistant Commissioner (former Chief of the Border Patrol) Willard Kelly wrote a memo the District Director of the San Antonio District concerning, “The need for a fence at Brownsville, Texas to form a barrier against illegal entry or aliens.”  This memo was a cover memo for a 7-page report concerning “the need construction of boundary fence and observation towers in vicinity of Brownsville, Texas-Matamoros, Mexico to control illegal traffic.”  The document is a “condensed report taken from a 29-page report submitted by Patrol Inspector in Charge Snow.”  The first two paragraphs which were written 70 years ago, seem just as applicable today.
  • The illegal traffic across the practically dry Rio Grande River bed within the area encompassed by the city limits of Brownsville, Texas and the neighboring city of Matamoros, Tamps., Mexico has reached such proportions that the construction of a boundary fence seems to be not only necessary and justified but also almost imperative. I know of no other way to cope with the situation. It is already completely beyond the ability of the presently authorized strength of the Brownsville Border Patrol unit to control, and grows worse steadily.
  • The seriousness of this situation lies not only in the fact that such large numbers of aliens are violating our Immigration laws to the point or making a farce or them, but that this disgraceful situation has become a public spectacle with thousands of out of state visitors from all over the nation witnessing and photographing these brazen mass violations of our laws in open daylight.
• Newton-Azrak Award action anniversary
  • Benjamin Sanford
    Senior Patrol Agent
    El Centro Sector
    On April 2, 2001, Senior Patrol Agent Benjamin Sanford was patrolling a stretch of the All American Canal, near Calexico, California, monitoring the border fence for people attempting to enter the country illegally from Mexico. A concerned citizen frantically approached him to report that a car had just plummeted into the canal. Agent Sanford immediately called his colleagues at the Calexico Station for assistance, and then drove to the crash site. When he arrived at the scene, he saw a partially submerged car and a woman flailing in a fight against the swift currents. Realizing he could not wait for help to arrive, and giving little regard to his own well-being, he dove into the water, swam to the woman, and dragged her to shore. His heroic actions saved her from certain death.
    
    

April 3

• On April 3, 1929, El Paso District Director Grover W. Wilmoth (1884-1951) issued a memo concerning the care, condition and operation of motor vehicles.  The El Paso District contained three sub-districts that correspond to modern day Tucson, El Paso, and Big Bend Sectors.
• On April 3, 2005, “Lynne Underdown becomes the first female Border Patrol Agent appointed to the Senior Executive Service, as Chief Patrol Agent of the Rio Grande Valley Sector.”
  • From - HONOR FIRST - United States Border Patrol Centennial Timeline 1924-2024 by Joseph Banco

 
April 4

• On April 4, 1935, the District Director of the Jacksonville wrote a memo concerning the courses of study in two of the district’s three sub-districts.  The Jacksonville memo was in response to a memo written December 22, 1934, by Supervisor (Chief) of the Border Patrol Willard Kelly (1903-1969).  Kelly had requested information concerning the manner in which new Border Patrol Inspectors were trained. Jacksonville stated that they opened courses of study to train Border Patrol Inspectors in the following locations:
  • Tampa Sub-district on February 5, 1935
  • Miami Sub-district on February 19, 1935
• Line of Duty Death anniversary
  • Jason C. Panides
    Date of Birth:                    December 27, 1974
    Entered on Duty:              March 9, 1998
    Title:                                   Border Patrol Agent
    End of Watch:                   April 4, 2001
     
    Details:
    On Wednesday, April 4, 2001, at 12:36 a.m., Border Patrol Agent Jason C. Panides was killed after assisting in the apprehension of a group of illegal aliens on Interstate Highway 35, north of Laredo, Texas. Agent Panides was in the southbound lane of the east access road when he was struck by a southbound truck. He was killed instantly.
     
    Agent Panides was a native of Jacksonville, Florida, and was a graduate of the University of Florida with a degree in criminal justice and psychology. He was a graduate of the 368th session of the Border Patrol Academy at Glynco, Georgia. At the time of his death, he was stationed at the Laredo North Border Patrol Station.
    
    ​Gravesite

 
April 5

• On April 5, 1904, the Secretary of Commerce and Labor wrote a letter to Marcus A. Smith (1851-1924) informing Mr. Smith of the appointment of Jeff Milton (1861-1947) as a Chinese Inspector.  The Secretary’s letter was response to a February 23, 1904 letter of recommendation from Mr. Smith.
  • Contrary to Border Patrol lore, documents from Jeff Milton's 1932 retirement indicate that he was neither a Border Patrol Inspector nor a member of the Border Patrol. 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 lore mistakenly identifying him as the first Border Patrol Inspector.​
• On April 5, 1932, the Inspector in Charge of in San Diego, California, Daniel Shepard Kuykendall (1881-1945), wrote a multipage memo addressing the enforcement cooperation between the U.S. Customs Service and the Immigration Service.  He also disagreed with a suggestion that the merging of the two organizations could result in efficiencies through the reduction of manpower.  The last paragraph in the memo references the “Border Patrol” idea of future Chief and Father of the Border Patrol Frank Berkshire (1870-1934) which would be realized about two years after this letter.  

 
April 6

• Line of Duty Death anniversary
  • Joseph P. Riley
    Date of Birth:                     October 23, 1894                                                     
    Entered on Duty:               October 8, 1924
    Title:                                    Patrol Inspector
    End of Watch:                    April 6, 1925
    
    Details:
    During the evening of April 4, 1925, Patrol Inspectors William A. Blundell and Joseph P. Riley were patrolling in a government-owned car about 1 1/2 miles from Eureka, Montana, when the tie rod broke, causing the automobile to leave the roadway. The vehicle continued over a high bank and then into a ditch and turned over, pinning Inspector Riley under the steering wheel. Patrol Inspector Blundell was not seriously injured.
     
    Patrol Inspector Riley sustained a fractured cervical vertebra and a spinal cord injury. He was conveyed to the Eureka Hospital, which was nearest the scene of the accident. The attending physician advised that Inspector Riley's condition was so serious that facilities were not available for providing proper attention at Eureka and he recommended moving the patient to Spokane, Washington. On April 5, Inspector Riley was transported by train to Spokane, Washington, where he was placed in the Sacred Heart Hospital. He succumbed at 6:00 a.m. on April 6, 1925, from respiratory paralysis.
    
    Survivor benefits - As per this document, his mother received $20 per month for 8 years
    
    ​Gravesite
• Newton-Azrak Award action anniversary
  • John K. Crowther
    Border Patrol Agent
    Del Rio Sector
    Border Patrol Agent John K. Crowther was recognized for his courage in attempting to rescue two men from the Rio Grande River.  On the night of April 6, 1993, Agent Crowther was performing river patrol when he spotted three individuals attempting to illegally enter the U.S. at a weir dam located upriver from the Del Rio, Texas International Bridge.  Two of the subjects tried to get away by diving into the water near the dam.  This part of the river, filled with strong currents and dangerous undertows, had caused numerous drowning deaths.  Knowing the danger involved and putting his own life at risk, Agent Crowther entered the water and attempted to rescue the two men.  He managed to grab one of the men and pull him to safety.  Agent Crowther tried to rescue the other man but could not locate him.  Agent Crowther put his own life at risk to save another person from certain death, exhibiting great courage with his act of heroism.
• Newton-Azrak Award action anniversary
  • Marco A. Perez Jr. - photo, award certificate
    Border Patrol Agent
    San Diego, CA
    On April 6, 2021, at approximately 6:58 A.M., beyond the call of duty, Border Patrol Agent Marco Perez put his own life at great personal risk and acted without hesitation to save a woman from certain death as she attempted to end her life.  By leaning over the edge of the 459-foot Pine Valley Bridge and grabbing the suicidal victim that had just let go, Agent Perez placed himself in great personal danger.  Agent Perez's conspicuous lifesaving actions brought great credit upon himself and the U.S. Border Patrol.