October 27 - November 2Welcome to another This Week in USBP History! This week we look back at key events such as the U.S. Border Patrol’s role in providing security for President Johnson during his 1967 meeting with Mexican President Gustavo Diaz-Ordaz, celebrating the completion of the Rio Grande channel. We also explore Operation Pressure, initiated on October 29, 1959, to combat smuggling activities between the U.S. and Cuba. This week, we remember two agents who made the ultimate sacrifice: Patrol Inspector Ross A. Gardner in 1925 and Border Patrol Agent David R. Delaney in 2012. Additionally, we recognize the heroic actions of agents like Tony Miranda, who saved multiple lives from a burning house in 2007, and Jesus E. De La Vega, who rescued a man from a burning vehicle in 1999. Dive into this week’s blog for more on these moments of service, sacrifice, and bravery that continue to shape the legacy of the U.S. Border Patrol. 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 MILESTONESOctober 27
This October 27, 1936 letter is from a company that manufactured USBP uniforms. The letter is asking clarification concerning the color of the leather for the bill of the USBP's Pershing hat. This question is in response to the USBP's second Uniform Policy, General Order 179 (GO179), where the Sam Brown belt colors were different for the northern border (black) and the southern border (cordovan). On October 27, 1944, a memo was written that provided recommended changes to Forms I-45, I-45A and I-45B. October 28 Line of Duty Death anniversary Ross A. Gardner Date of Birth: July 9, 1900 Entered on Duty: January 2, 1925 Title: Patrol Inspector End of Watch: October 28, 1925 Details: On October 27, 1925, Patrol Inspector Ross A. Gardner was returning from his official station, San Diego, California, to Elsinore, California, where he was temporarily assigned. He was operating a government-owned motorcycle that he had taken to San Diego to be repaired. At Sedoc, California, about three miles east of Elsinore, Inspector Gardner ran into the rear of an automobile that was stalled on the roadway. The stalled vehicle had no lights at the time and, reportedly, headlights on a truck heading in the opposite direction hampered the officer's vision. Patrol Inspector Gardner sustained a fractured skull, fracture of the pelvis, and internal injuries. He was conveyed to Elsinore by a passing motorist but was later transferred to the Naval Hospital in San Diego, California. Death occurred at 4:20 a.m. on October 28, 1925. Gravesite President Johnson would return to El Paso on October 28, 1967, to meet with Mexican President Gustavo Diaz-Ordaz to celebrate the completion of the Rio Grande channel. Both Presidents met in the center of the Santa Fe International Bridge (which was renamed the Paso Del Norte Bridge) and shook hands at the relocated obelisk from the 1964 ceremony. Two additional bridges were also renamed: the Cordova Bridge became the Bridge of Americas and the Stanton Street Bridge became the Good Neighbor (Friendship) Bridge. As part of the ceremony, both Presidents pressed a button initiating a charge detonating an earthen dam that allowed the river to flow on its new course. The U.S. Border Patrol again assisted in providing security for the Presidents and the crowds witnessing the event. Patrol Inspector Jessee Tabor, who would later become Chief of New Orleans Sector, had the following to relate regarding the Patrol’s participation;
October 29 In response, INS Commissioner Joseph M. Swing (1894-1984) designated the Chief Patrol Inspector of the Tampa Sector as the lead coordinator for a task force operation that was designated as Operation Pressure, with the objective “to cope with the illegal entry of Cuban nationals and the illicit traffic of aliens, arms and ammunition between the United States and Cuba.” Forty-eight Patrol Inspectors, eight Border Patrol Pilots, four aircraft, and 27 sedans were immediately moved to Tampa Sector to supplement the forces currently in the Sector. The main contingent of Patrol Inspectors was transported from Brownsville, TX, to Tampa, FL, eighteen hours after the notice went out on October 29, 1959. A week later, Operation Pressure would morph into Operation Skyward after Attorney General William Pierce Rogers (1913-2001) enacted Presidential Directive 3004 and directed the Department of Justice to lead the operations to counter efforts to destabilize the region and put into effect measures to prevent the smuggling of aliens and contraband.
October 30 A memo dated October 30, 1924 illustrates the confusion concerning the authorities of Border Patrol Inspectors (BPI). Concerning BPIs enforcing Prohibition and Customs laws, the United States Attorney writes, "Whether the immigration officer should assist in the enforcement of the other two laws above mentioned, is to my mind, a question of policy to be decided by your chief superior officer." However, with the passage of the Immigration Act of 1925, BPIs were given law enforcement powers (see Sections 235 and 287, (sound familiar?)). Further, with the implementation of General Order 63 on March 29, 1926, the Assistant Secretary of the Department of Labor and the Commissioner-General authorized Immigration and Border Patrol Officers to enforce laws other than immigration laws. In this October 30, 1940 memo, the Chief Patrol Inspector Carson Morrow (1896-1959) of the Tucson Sub-district writes his boss, the District Director of the El Paso District, recommending locations to create Border Patrol "outposts" and includes a diagram of the facilities. October 30, 2014, “U.S. Border Patrol BORTAC and BORSTAR team members assist the Pennsylvania State Police in apprehending fugitive/cop killer Matthew Eric Fein who has been on the run for seven weeks after ambushing two troopers, killing one of them. BORTAC track/trail canines assisted in the manhunt.”
October 31 On October 31, 1940, the Chief Patrol Inspector Earl Fallis (1894-1977) of the Big Bend Sub-district wrote a memo to the El Paso District Director containing his suggestions for outpost stations and their designs. November 1 On November 1, 1930, a gunfight occurred in El Paso between three Border Patrol Inspectors and a person known as "Chato". This document contains a cover memo and a sworn statement of one of the Border Patrol Inspectors. Chato was wounded and is suspected to have died in Mexico due to his wounds.
In 1932, Frank Berkshire (The Father of the Border Patrol) was the Director of the Canadian Border District (which was the northern border Chief of the Border Patrol at the time). On November 1, 1932, Berkshire wrote a memo to the Commissioner-General expressing his approval for a new uniform coat. After Fidel Castro succeeded in taking over the Cuban Government in January 1959, anti-Castro Cubans and, in some cases, U.S. citizens, used Florida airports to carry out hostile activity against Cuba, thereby causing embarrassment to the U.S. November 1, 1959, the U.S. Attorney General was directed to prevent the departure of persons, including by air, from the U.S. to Cuba, who appeared to be departing for the purpose of starting or furthering civil strife in that country. The responsibility for preventing departure of unauthorized flights was assigned to the Border Patrol.
Newton-Azrak Award action anniversary Tony Miranda Border Patrol Agent Tucson Sector On November 1, 2007, in Wellton, AZ, Agent Miranda observed a house almost completely engulfed in flames. Without regard for his personal safety, he entered the structure through the front door and assisted a woman in a wheelchair to safety. He immediately reentered the house, located a double amputee elderly man, and led him to safety. At that point, Agent Miranda was informed that a mother and two children were still in the house. A third time, he entered through the front door only to find that the ceiling was fully engulfed and that fiery debris was falling on him. As he retreated outside, he was told that the room in which the mother and children were believed to be was on the rear, right side of the house. With the help of a neighbor, Agent Miranda dislodged an air-conditioning unit from the wall, creating an entry point into the room. For a fourth time, Agent Miranda entered the house to save people. He found the room to be full of black smoke, with such intense heat that breathing was nearly impossible. Again, he was forced to retreat. Once outside, Agent Miranda instructed the neighbor to use a nearby garden hose and to douse his uniform with water. For a fifth time, Agent Miranda entered the house. He found the room to be engulfed in flame, full of choking smoke and raining debris from the ceiling that was on fire. Over the next week, Agent Miranda would lose his eyelashes, eyebrows and much of his hair. The heat that he experienced inside the house was so intense that it cause the hair to become brittle and to break off. For his conspicuous heroism and extraordinary courage, he was awarded the Commissioner’s Meritorious Service Award for Valor and the Secretary’s Valor Award. Agent Miranda’s actions brought great credit upon himself and the United States Border Patrol. November 1, 2023, “U.S. Border Patrol officially begins transition to new OD Green Rough Duty Uniform. The shade of green is further away from the traditional “forest green” and continues a trend in changes in dress and appearance. All Agents would be required to transition to the new RDU by June 1, 2024.”
November 2 It is believed that by 1936 it was known that portions of the Department of Labor were going to be transferred to the Department of Justice. This memo, written November 2, 1936 by the Deputy Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), is his response to the INS losing the Border Patrol, most likely in response one of the proposals to such a transfer.
Newton-Azrak Award action anniversary Jesus E. De La Vega Supervisory Border Patrol Agent El Centro Sector On November 2, 1999 at about 11:20 PM, Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Jesus E. De La Vega was patrolling the border area along Interstate Highway 8 near Seeley, California. As he turned off the highway, he saw a huge white cloud of smoke covering the ramp. Through the smoke, he was able to make out a vehicle that had just crashed, rolled over twice, and come to rest on its side. Flames shot out from the front passenger compartment and from under the hood. Looking for occupants, SBPA De La Vega spied a single male victim, later identified as a Bruce Allen Stanley, who was severely disoriented and desperately attempting to exit the vehicle. Stanley could make no headway, unable as he was to move his right arm, which had been injured when the vehicle rolled over. Agent De La Vega asked Mr. Stanley whether any other occupants were in the vehicle. The victim stated that he was the only one. As the flames became more intense, Agent De La Vega, oblivious to his own safety, attempted to open the door of the vehicle, but was initially beaten back by the smoke and heat. After a few more attempts, Agent De La Vega was finally able to pull open the door, release the man’s seat belt, and drag him to safety away from the vehicle, which by then was entirely engulfed in flames. Agent De La Vega proceeded to administer emergency first aid to Mr. Stanley and make him as comfortable as possible. Next, he radioed for emergency services, and within minutes, units from the California Highway Patrol, Imperial County Fire Department, and Gold Cross Ambulance had responded. They treated Mr. Stanley for the injuries to his shoulder and arm and for smoke inhalation. For his part, Agent De La Vega escaped injury. His selfless and heroic actions saved a life and are a true inspiration. Line of Duty Death anniversary David R. Delaney Date of Birth September 5, 1968 Entered on Duty: December 12, 2002 Title: Border Patrol Agent End of Watch: November 2, 2012 Details: On November 2, 2012, Border Patrol Agent David R. Delaney collapsed and died while patrolling on foot near Big Bend National Park in Texas. Agent Delaney entered on duty as a member of the 536th academy session on December 12, 2002. Following his graduation, he was assigned to the Calexico Station in the El Centro Sector. He then transferred to Houlton and Grand Forks Sectors before settling in at the Big Bend National Park Sub-Station of Alpine Station in the Big Bend Sector in 2011. Agent Delaney is survived by his wife and three children. Gravesite
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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
October 2024
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