June 16 - June 22Good morning! Welcome to another This Week in USBP History! Dive into the history of the U.S. Border Patrol with us this week. On June 19, 1918, Commissioner-General Anthony J. Caminetti wrote a memo to the Secretary of the Department of Labor, advocating for the creation of a border patrol. This memo marks an early step towards the establishment of the U.S. Border Patrol. On June 16, 1926, Henry R. Landis, the Commissioner of Immigration for the Montreal District, detailed the sub-districts, stations, and Border Patrol personnel assigned to his district, providing one of the earliest and most comprehensive rosters for the area. June 17, 1954, saw the initiation of Phase II of Operation Wetback, mobilizing 750 Border Patrolmen from all 22 sectors to the El Centro and Chula Vista sectors. Although the term "wetback" is considered derogatory today, it was commonly used at the time. This operation marked a significant moment in the history of U.S. immigration enforcement. Tragically, on June 17, 1967, Patrol Inspectors Theodore L. Newton, Jr. and George F. Azrak were killed in the line of duty near Oak Grove, California. Their dedication and ultimate sacrifice are a somber reminder of the dangers faced by Border Patrol agents. In their honor, the Border Patrol's highest award, the Newton-Azrak Award, was created in 1973 to recognize acts of bravery and heroism. On June 17, 1999, Border Patrol Agent Christopher A. Ramnes, while off-duty, heroically rescued three young men from a submerged vehicle in an irrigation canal, demonstrating the unwavering dedication of Border Patrol agents to protect and save lives. 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. THIS WEEK'S USBP ANNIVERSARIES AND MILESTONESJune 16
On June 16, 1926, the Commissioner of Immigration for the Montreal District, Henry R. Landis (1880-1950), wrote a memo to the Commissioner-General identifying the sub-districts, stations and Border Patrol personnel assigned to his district. This is one of the earliest and most complete rosters for the area. On June 16, 1939, the Immigration and Naturalization Service requested the specifications for the eight-pointed hat worn by New York City police officers. The eight-pointed hat would be approved for wear by Border Patrol Inspectors in the 1940s, replacing the Pershing hat which had been authorized since 1924. June 17 Operation Wetback - Phase II of Operation Wetback initiated on June 17, 1954, with a force of 750 Border Patrolmen detailed from all 22 Border Patrol Sectors to El Centro and Chula Vista Sectors.
Line of Duty Death anniversary– Patrol Inspectors Theodore L. Newton, Jr. and George F. Azrak, June 17, 1967. Theodore L. Newton, Jr. Date of Birth: July 30, 1941 Entered on Duty: April 11, 1966 Title: Patrol Inspector End of Watch: June 17, 1967 Gravesite George F. Azrak Date of Birth: June 30, 1945 Entered on Duty: May 15, 1967 Title: Patrol Inspector (Trainee) End of Watch: June 17, 1967 Gravesite Patrol Inspector Theodore Lawrence Newton, Jr., born on July 30, 1941, joined the Border Patrol on April 11, 1966. Patrol Inspector (Trainee) George Frederick Azrak, born on June 30, 1945, entered duty on May 15, 1967. Their paths tragically intersected, leading to a harrowing incident that claimed their lives on June 17, 1967. Both inspectors were involved in a traffic check operation near Oak Grove, California, in the early morning hours of June 17, 1967. When they failed to report in, a hurried search was initiated but failed to locate the men or their vehicles, a jeep and a Border Patrol sedan. The jeep was soon found about a mile from the checkpoint. On June 19, 1967, a member of a jeep club from Hemet, California, discovered the missing sedan, concealed with brush near a deserted mountain cabin, where the bodies of the missing patrolmen were found. The investigation revealed that Inspectors Newton and Azrak had intercepted a vehicle carrying over 800 pounds of marijuana. During the inspection, they were overpowered by four convicted felons, two of whom had been following in a second vehicle. The officers were taken to the mountain cabin, handcuffed to each other, and brutally executed. Autopsies showed that Inspector Newton had been shot once in the head, while Inspector Azrak suffered three gunshot wounds, two in the head and one in the chest. There were no indications of a struggle. The murders of Theodore L. Newton, Jr., and George F. Azrak highlight the extreme dangers faced by Border Patrol agents. Their commitment to their duty and the tragic circumstances of their deaths are a somber reminder of the risks inherent in law enforcement. Their service and sacrifice are deeply honored and remembered. Their gravesites stand as solemn tributes to their dedication and the ultimate sacrifice they made in the line of duty. See this link for more information about the murders and the investigation. Newton-Azrak Award action anniversary Diego Gonzales Border Patrol Agent El Paso Sector On June 17, 1996, Border Patrol Agent Diego Gonzales was performing linewatch duties at the Franklin Headgates. At approximately 11:00 am, he patrolled his assigned area for any intrusion, and after having done so, positioned his vehicle to have a commanding view of his assignment. As he peered through his binoculars, BPA Gonzales heard what he described later as a scream or shout. He immediately responded in his vehicle to investigate and observed a subject frantically attempting to stay afloat and at the same time desperately looking for something to hang on to and avoid from being sucked into the Franklin Headgates that were approximately 25 yards away. BPA Gonzales immediately exited his vehicle having secured a life ring (flotation device) and there it out to the subject, thus managing to rescue him from the impending drowning. As he pulled him out of the concrete lined canal, the subject gasping for air was able to convey to BPA Gonzales that another individual had been sucked into the headgates. BPA Gonzales quickly called out on his hand held radio asking for assistance and notifying all concerned as to the situation at hand. As the other units arrived on the scene, he coordinated their efforts in attempting to locate and/or rescue the subject. Several minutes had transpired and agents were alerted by people on the Mexican side of the river of a subject being flushed out of the headgates and into the Rio Grande River. BPA Gonzales, without hesitation, handed SBPA Leandro M. Chavez his pistol belt and jumped into the river making his way to the subject who appeared unconscious. BPA Gonzales, along with the subject he had just rescued, managed to pull the subject to the Mexican side of the river and upon doing so, immediately commenced administering CPR. BPA Gonzales continued his efforts to revive the subject for approximately 15 minutes, at which time a Mexican EMS unit arrived and pronounced the subject dead at the scene. Due to BPA Gonzales’ attentiveness to both duty and the details of his work environment, his actions resulted in certain rescue of life from the treacherous waters of the Franklin Canal. Furthermore, he risked his own life in attempting to rescue the second individual. Newton-Azrak Award action anniversary Christopher A. Ramnes Border Patrol Agent McAllen Sector On June 17, 1999, at approximately 1:00 a.m., off-duty Border Patrol Agent Christopher A. Ramnes was driving home to retrieve his video camera to memorialize the birth of his first child when he observed a vehicle approaching an intersection at a high rate of speed. The driver failed to stop, continued through the intersection, and plunged into an irrigation canal. Without hesitation, BPA Ramnes ran to the canal and jumped into the water. He reached into the submerged vehicle, grabbed a hand, and pulled a young man to the surface, then placed him onto the canal bank. He returned to the submerged vehicle two more times and extracted two more young men. Agent Ramnes summoned emergency unity to the scene and continued to search for a fourth victim. Unfortunately, the fourth young man had been ejected from the vehicle and was later recovered a few feet from the vehicle. June 18 Line of Duty Death anniversary Kenneth L. Carl Date of Birth: September 5, 1926 Entered on Duty: August 17, 1953 Title: Airplane Pilot End of Watch: June 18, 1961 Details: During the hours after midnight on Saturday, June 17, 1961, several jeep teams composed of Patrol Inspectors from Calexico, California, tracked two illegal aliens to an alfalfa field near El Centro, California. Personnel of the jeep patrol encircled the field and prevented possible egress of the aliens. At dawn on June 18, 1961, officers at the scene initiated a radio message to Sector for aerial patrol assistance in spotting the aliens. Pilot Kenneth L. Carl was airborne at approximately 5:30 a.m. in a Piper Supercub. He immediately initiated low observation passes over the field. In a short time, one of the illegal aliens raised his head above the level of the alfalfa and was spotted by the pilot and ground units. When the first capture had been accomplished, the Patrol Inspectors ascertained the description, dress, and name of the second alien and radioed that information to Pilot Carl. The pilot was reported to have been flying at reduced air speed and very close to the ground, when the aircraft stalled and struck the ground. Pilot Carl was pronounced dead prior to being removed from the scene of the accident. It was later ascertained that his heart had been crushed within the rib cage on impact with the instrument panel. Gravesite An interesting fact that was found during research was that INS senior leadership questioned the use of INS salaries and expenses appropriations to purchase the 75th Anniversary Medals by the U.S. Border Patrol. In a June 18, 1998, memorandum, the INS requested a decision through the Office of Comptroller General of the United States and the General Accounting Office. Quoting the INS memorandum, the GAO states,
June 19 On June 19, 1918, Commissioner-General Anthony J. Caminetti (1854-1923) wrote a memo to the Secretary of the Department of Labor, William B. Wilson (1862-1934). The memo described how the Secretary of State approved a plan to create a border patrol, and Caminetti recommended that Wilson speak to the President to secure funding for the patrol. In a handwritten comment, Wilson responded, "I shall not ask for funds to put this program into effect until the Departments interested demonstrate the need of it more fully than they have thus far done."
June 20 Today marks a quiet day in USBP history. June 21 On June 21, 1924, future Chief of the Border Patrol, Willard F. Kelly (1903-1969) entered on duty as a Patrol Inspector as per his Oath of Office. Kelly became the third person to hold the position of Chief of the Border Patrol (1933-1943) and was the first Chief to have initially been a Patrol Inspector.
On June 21, 1956, a cancellation of a transfer was issued detailing the cancellation of a planned transfer for Patrol Inspector George E. Newman, who had graduated with Class 59 on June 8, 1955. This memo serves as a representative example of the administrative procedures and decisions commonly made during that time. It also provides information about several individuals who held various positions within the organization. Newton-Azrak Award action anniversary Robert E. Jolicoeur Border Patrol Agent Del Rio Sector On June 21, 1990, Border Patrol Agent Robert E. Jolicoeur responded to a call for assistance from the Eagle Pass Police Department concerning a possible hostage situation. After lengthy negotiations with the heavily armed suspect by local policy authorities had failed, Agent Jolicoeur risked his life to disarm and subdue the individual. His professionalism and unselfish dedication resulted in the successful termination of a critical situation without injury or loss of life. June 22 On June 22, 1924, the Commissioner of Immigration for the Montreal District (District #1), informed the Central Office that Charles E. Grey would be promoted to an Immigrant Inspector that was designated as a Patrol Inspector in Charge.
On June 22, 1942, a memo was written concerning badges for guards assigned to work at alien detention camps (not the same as internment camps). A few things of interest about this brief memo:
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Clifford GillBlog author, retired U.S. Border Patrol Assistant Chief and, current U.S. Border Patrol employee advocate. Ray HarrisSite founder and owner, former Supervisory Border Patrol Agent and retired Immigration Special Agent. Joseph BancoU.S. Border Patrol historian and retired Deputy Chief Patrol Agent. Archives
December 2024
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