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Picture

This Week in USBP History, Vol. 75

2/5/2023

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February 5 - February 11


Intro

Retired Assistant Chief Eric Gough in uniform wearing the following awards, CBP Medal of Honor for Heroism, USBP Newton-Azrak Award, Department of State Superior Honor Award, Department of the Army Meritorious Public Service Medal, the NATO Non-Article 5 medal for ISAF, the CBP Iraqi Service medal, and the CBP Afghanistan Service MedalAssistant Chief Eric Gough (1962-2023)
Good morning!
 
Welcome to another This Week in USBP History!

​Sadly as we age, death becomes a more frequent visitor to us.

Earlier last week, I heard of the passing of retired Assistant Chief Eric Gough.  He was only 60 years old, only three years into retirement, and gone far too soon. 


I've often said, "No matter who you are, you're someone's villain."  But Eric was the exception to that statement.  I never met a person who did not think well of him.  He was universally liked.  He was passionate and enthusiastic about his work, and caring and engaging with every person he encountered.   It is said that happiness is found by living in the moment. When you spoke to Eric, you could tell that he was in the moment with you, that you had his full attention. 

Eric had an unusually varied and successful career.   As Chief of the Border Patrol Carla Provost wrote in his retirement letter:

First off and most importantly, congratulations on your retirement! Id like to express my sincerest gratitude for your dedicated service and selfless dedication and integrity for over two decades as a Border Patrol Agent. Your kindness and welcoming demeanor has not gone unnoticed by your peers and has been a pleasure to all who have worked beside you.

You entered on duty with the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) on December 2, 1996, as a member of Class 326. Your first duty assignment as a Border Patrol Agent was at the Yuma Station, Yuma Sector, where you were soon promoted to Senior Patrol Agent in 2001 before taking the same position a year later in Port Huron, Michigan, Detroit Sector.  In 2006, you accepted a Supervisory Border Patrol Agent position at USBP Headquarters before your promotion to Operations Officer in 2007.  That same year, you took a Supervisory position as a Firearms Program Specialist under the Office of Training and Development.  In 2011, you promoted once more, this time as a manager and Regional Command Representative to Afghanistan where you were awarded several medals of valor after engaging and terminating an armed assailant who had ambushed members of your team.  Finally in 2015, you promoted to Assistant Chief Patrol Agent at USBP Headquarters, Intelligence Division, where you oversaw the Law Enforcement Technical Collections program for the entire agency.


Eric was also a BORSTAR agent having graduated with BORSTAR Class 5.  He was a member of CBP deployments to both Afghanistan and Iraq.  He was the first recipient of CBP's highest award, the CBP Medal of Honor for Heroism.  He was also a recipient of the Border Patrol's highest recognition, the Newton-Azrak Award.

Eric Gough's Newton-Azrak Award
Eric C. Gough - photo
Supervisory Border Patrol Agent
Advanced Training Center 
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia 

On July 22, 2012, at approximately 7:00 p.m. in Herat, Afghanistan, an armed assailant, alleged to be an Afghan National Policeman, opened fire on government contractors and CBP personnel at the Herat Regional Training Center in Afghanistan. The assailant approached from a blind spot behind a vehicle and opened fire with an AK-47 assault rifle, killing two people immediately. As the assailant continued his attack, personnel attempted to take cover in a nearby bunker, and three additional people were shot, one fatally. Hearing the gunfire, Agent Eric Gough swiftly headed toward the location. As the assailant continued to fire, Agent Gough tactically approached and then stopped the threat by returning fire, which resulted in the death of the assailant. 
 
Upon stopping the threat, Agent Gough, also a Border Search Trauma and Rescue (BORSTAR) member, administered aid to the wounded. The combat medical care he provided to Border Management Task Force member Dana Hampton is credited with saving his life. Hampton was shot three times and was in critical condition, including a severe wound to the abdomen. Agent Gough stabilized Hampton’s injuries, assisted with transport, and remained with him until proper medical attention could be provided. In the course of the transport, Agent Gough had to overcome security obstacles caused by a lockdown of the compound and medical facility. Agent Gough’s perseverance and tenacity ensured that Dana Hampton was given proper medical care in a timely manner. 
 
U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan Crocker lauded Agent Gough’s heroic actions and acknowledged that his decisiveness saved numerous lives. Additional accolades were received from the Department of Defense’s U.S. Central Command, Customs and Border Protection, and the Department of Homeland Security.
Eric Gough's Awards and Recognitions (Displayed on his Uniform)
BORSTAR Device
BORSTAR Device
CBP Medal of Honor for Heroism
CBP Medal of Honor for Heroism
U.S. Border Patrol Newton-Azrak Award
U.S. Border Patrol Newton-Azrak Award
USBP 75th Anniversary Award
USBP 75th Anniversary Award
Department of the Army Meritorious Public Service Medal
Department of the Army Meritorious Public Service Medal
Department of State Superior Honor Award
Department of State Superior Honor Award
NATO Non-Article 5 medal for ISAF
NATO Non-Article 5 medal for ISAF
CBP Iraq Service Medal
CBP Iraq Service Medal
CBP Afghanistan Service Medal
CBP Afghanistan Service Medal
COMMENDATIONS
2013
  • CBP Medal of Honor for Heroism
  • USBP Newton-Azrak Award
  • U.S. Army Meritorious Public Service Medal
  • Department of State Superior Honor Award
  • NATO Non-Article Five Service Medal
  • Secretary of Defense Medal for the Global War on Terrorism
  • ​CBP Afrganistan Service Medal
  • Brian Terry Foundation Award
2009
  • CBP Iraq Service Medal
2008
  • Commendation for efforts in Iraq
  • CBP Ambassador Team Award Iraq
2006
  • Commendation for Hurricane Katrina
2003-2005
  • Multiple Commendations for OP Desert Rescue II and OP ABC
2003
  • Commendation from the Police Chief Yuma, AZ
1998
  • Commendation for rescue attempt of drowning subject
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
2017
  • Presidential Inauguration of President Trump
2015
  • Papal Visit of Pope Francis Washington & Philadelphia
2011-2012
  • CBP Regional Command Representative Afghanistan
2008
  • Iraq- Border Support Team
2005
  • Hurricane Katrina- BORSTAR
  • Instructor BORSTAR Class IX
2004
  • Operation ABCI
2003
  • OP Desert Rescue II
1999 & 2001
  • ​Physical Techniques Instructor USBP Academy
A truly great man, gone far too soon.

​This week's update starts with a 1911 Mounted Inspector announcement.  We have 1918, 10-page summary of the status of the Mexican border written by the Father of the Border Patrol, a 5-page report covering modern-day Buffalo Sector from 1928, a 
blueprint for a reorganization of the El Paso District sub-districts from 1930, the Patrol's involvement in a spy exchange between the United States and the Soviet Union in 1962, and more!

We remember two Border Patrol heroes on the anniversary of the Newton-Azrak Award action.

​And we remember ​Patrol Inspector Norman G. Ross on the anniversary of his death.

​Have a great week!

Cliff
PS - 
  • 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 documents and pages.
  • Finally, please forward this blog to whomever you think may enjoy it.

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.

Documents and events

1911
  • On February 8, 1911, an announcement for Mounted Inspector was issued. This position has also been referred to as the Mounted Watchmen and Mounted Guard.
    • There was an organization called the Immigration Patrol that was different from the aforementioned and was abolished on August 18, 1919 as per this 1920 document.  Very little information is know about it.
1918
  • This document, written on February 5, 1918, by future Chief and Father of the Border Patrol Frank Berkshire (1870-1934), provides a 10-page summary of the status of the border.  He writes about the main areas from the Gulf of Mexico to California.

1928
  • On February 11, 1928, Ruel Davenport (1878-1961) was the sole Chief of the Border Patrol and was conducting a tour of the Buffalo District at the direction of the Commissioner-General.  He wrote a detailed, 5-page report on his observations of the district and two Border Patrol sub-districts, Buffalo and Niagara Falls.
1929
  • On February 6, 1929, Montreal District Commissioner of Immigration Harry R. Landis (1880-1950) wrote a memo to the Commissioner-General.  The memo has several interesting points:
    • It shows the hierarchy of Border Patrol inspectors being “kicked upstairs” to Immigrant Inspectors.
    • Commissioner Landis writes of his disagreement with Assistant Superintendent Antonio Bonazzi (although he doesn’t mention his name).
      • An Assistant Superintendent was the highest-ranking uniformed position in the Border Patrol (see this link for the early rank insignia/hierarchy).  Each district along the border had one.  Landis was writing about his non-concurrence with his subordinate.
1930
  • On February 12, 1930, El Paso District Assistant Superintendent and  7th Chief of the Border Patrol Nicolas Donald Collaer (1896-1977), submitted a blueprint for a reorganization of the El Paso District sub-districts. There are several interesting aspects of the proposal:
    • The El Paso District, District #25, was comprised of:
      • Sub-district #1 – Modern-day Tucson Sector
      • Sub-district #2 – Modern-day El Paso Sector
      • Sub-district #3 – Modern-day Big Bend Sector
    • The blueprint primarily shows sub-district #1, the modern-day Tucson Sector.  On the right side of the blueprint, written vertically are mentions of the other two sub-districts.
    • Early use of the titles Assistant Chief Patrol Inspector, Sector Chief (modern PAIC), Assistant Sector Chief (Modern DPAIC)
    • Calling modern stations “Sectors”
1955
  • On February 7, 1955, a Patrol Inspector (rank unknown) Paul Kester "Bing" Crosby (1910-1965) sent Chief of the Border Patrol Harlon Carter (1913-1991​) a comparison of the USBP promotions and resignations.  It compares Jul-Dec 1953 to Jul-Dec 1954.
1962
  • The U.S. Border Patrol played a role in the 1962 spy exchange between the U.S. and Soviet Union involving U-2 Pilot Francis Gary Powers (1929-1977) and Soviet “super-spy” Rudolph Ivanovich Abel...  The final involvement of the U.S. Border Patrol was “secretly” flying Abel, Deputy Director of Prisons Fred Wilkinson (1907-1981), a U.S. Marshal, and a Bureau of Prisons guard from Atlanta (where Abel was being held in the Federal Penitentiary) to New Jersey on February 8, 1962. Abel was transferred to a military aircraft along with Deputy Director Wilkinson for the final flight to Berlin, West Germany. On the morning of February 10, 1962, James Donovan (1916-1970) walked Rudolph Ivanovich Abel to the center of the Glienicke Bridge crossing the Havel River between Berlin, West Germany, and Potsdam, East Germany, and exchanged the man he had represented for the last five years for Francis Gary Powers.​​
    • From - HONOR FIRST: The Story of the United States Border Patrol - Volume Three 1975-1999​ by Joseph Banco​

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
The USBP Newton-Azrak Award Scroll
2021

Gregory M. Stecher
 - ​photo
Border Patrol Agent
Swanton, VT 

In the morning hours of February 11, 2005, Agent Stecher responded to a call to support a Coast Guard rescue mission involving a partially submerged vehicle on the thin ice of Lake Champlain. Two men had become stranded on the snow-covered ice when their vehicle broke through the ice. The USCG Rescue team became exhausted with the onset of hypothermia and requested assistance. Agent Stecher was aware that recent weather conditions were conducive to thin ice and that another rescue snowmobile had already broken through the ice. Beyond the call of duty and facing grave danger, Agent Stecher operated his snowmobile on the thin ice and rescued one of the fishermen while his partner and Vermont Fish and Game units rescued the Coast Guardsmen. While speeding to shore with a victim onboard, Agent Stecher’s snowmobile began to break through the ice. Only by maintaining very high speed was he able to stay afloat and complete the rescue. Agent Stecher’s actions brought great credit upon himself and the United States Border Patrol.
 
George P. Woodward - photo
Border Patrol Agent
Swanton, VT 

In the morning hours of February 11, 2005, Agent Woodward responded to a call to support a Coast Guard rescue mission involving a partially submerged vehicle on the thin ice of Lake Champlain. Two men had become stranded on the snow-covered ice when their vehicle broke through the ice. The USCG Rescue team became exhausted with the onset of hypothermia and requested assistance. Agent Woodward was aware that recent weather conditions were conducive to thin ice and that another rescue snowmobile had already broken through the ice. Beyond the call of duty and facing grave danger, Agent Woodward operated his snowmobile on the thin ice and rescued one of the fishermen while his partner and Vermont Fish and Game units rescued the Coast Guardsmen. While speeding to shore with a victim onboard, Agent Woodward's snowmobile began to break through the ice. Only by maintaining very high speed was he able to stay afloat and complete the rescue. Agent Woodward's actions brought great credit upon himself and the United States Border Patrol.

U.S. Border Patrol Fallen

U.S. Border Patrol Badge with a Mourning BandU.S. Border Patrol Badge with a Mourning Band
As of December 7, 2022, the U.S. Border Patrol has suffered 153* fallen.
Titles:
  • 3 Mounted Watchmen fell before 1924 and are carried as Border Patrol fallen
  • 48 Border Patrol Inspectors fell between 1924 and 1970
  • 101 Border Patrol Agents have fallen since 1970
  • 1 Enforcement Analysis Specialist
 
The names that appear below hold a place of honor. They have made the ultimate sacrifice in an effort to fulfill the oath each officer took to protect and defend the United States of America.
 
The facts regarding each officer are presented without major editing of the "language of the day" found in the reports detailing the circumstances of each event. This is done to provide the reader an association with historical timeframes.
 
Employees who died in the line of duty due to being exposed to deadly illnesses will not have the cause of death listed.
 
I will note that Border Patrol Agent John Charles Gigax is not recognized as officially fallen by Customs and Border Protection or the U.S. Border Patrol. The Border Patrol Foundation and the Border Patrol Museum also fail to recognize him. He is remembered by all except organizations containing "Border Patrol" in their title. He is remembered by the:
  • National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial (see this link),
  • Officer Down memorial Page (see this link), and
  • Texas Peace Officer's Memorial (see this link).
 
The U.S. Border Patrol, the Border Patrol Foundation, and the Border Patrol Museum should fix their oversight. 
 
HonorFirst.com remembers and lists Agent Gigax among the fallen.

Fallen Border Patrol Agent John Charles Gigax's tombstone. Fallen Border Patrol Agent Jason C. Panides' tombstone in is the background.
Fallen Border Patrol Agent John Charles Gigax's tombstone. Fallen Border Patrol Agent Jason C. Panides' tombstone in is the background.
1928

Norman G. Ross
Date of Birth:                      May 15, 1901
Entered on Duty:               February 23, 1926
Title:                                       Patrol Inspector
End of Watch:                     February 10, 1928

Details:
Patrol Inspector Norman G. Ross was shot and killed near Kane Springs, California, on the afternoon of February 10, 1928. He had arrested two Mexican aliens and was attempting to convey them to Patrol Headquarters at El Centro. The aliens, in whose car they were being transported, had a revolver concealed in the automobile, which one of the aliens used to kill Inspector Ross. His body was found on the back seat of the aliens' abandoned car. He had been shot through the head.

Survivor benefits - As per this document, his wife received $67.50 per month for her and one child.

​Gravesite

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    Clifford Gill

    Blog author, retired U.S. Border Patrol Assistant Chief and, current U.S. Border Patrol employee advocate.

    ​Read more about Cliff here.


    Ray Harris

    Site founder and owner, former Senior Patrol Agent and retired Immigration Special Agent.

    ​Read more about Ray here.


    Joseph Banco

    U.S. Border Patrol historian and retired Deputy Chief Patrol Agent.

    ​Read more about Joe here.


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