HONOR FIRST

  • Home
    • Award
  • For USBP Applicants
    • Academy
    • Class Schedule
    • Requirements
    • TESTING >
      • Books
      • CBP Official Guide
      • ALT
      • PT Standards
    • HOW TO SUCCEED >
      • The Hiring Procedure
      • Background Investigation >
        • Investigation Process
        • Polygraph
        • A Happy Investigator
        • NOPA >
          • NOPA Template
        • Fingerprints
      • Career Survival
      • FOIA
      • Main FAQ Page >
        • Hiring Process
        • Hiring Problems
        • Oral Boards
        • Important Phone Numbers
        • eQIP
        • Life at My New Station
        • Other Questions
        • Stupid Questions
    • COMPENSATION >
      • PAY
      • Health Insurance
      • Retirement
    • Communication >
      • Sector Recruiter Information
      • Contact Info
  • USBP Pages and Links
    • Firearms Qualification Course
    • Military Time Buy Back
    • Station MWRs
    • Uniforms, Tattoos, Grooming
    • Fast & Furious
    • U.S. Border Patrol Fallen
    • Honor First and Esprit de Corps
    • USBP Photo Galleries
    • U.S. Border Patrol History >
      • The Father of the Border Patrol
      • The U.S. Border Patrol’s Early Rank and Time-in-Service Insignia
      • Historical Documents
      • This Week in USBP History Blog
    • U.S. Border Patrol Honorary Awards
    • Upholding Honor First >
      • Newton-Azrak Award Recipients
      • USBP Purple Cross Recipients
      • USBP Commendation Award Recipients
      • USBP Achievement Award Recipients
      • USBP Significant Recognition Recipients
    • U.S. Border Patrol Authorized Devices
    • Border Patrol Stories
    • What's Important Now - Academy Podcast
    • Badges
    • Veterans
    • Tips for the Media
    • Links
    • Acronyms
    • Border Patrol Locations
    • Sector/Station FaceBook Pages
    • Ten Codes
  • Online Forums
    • Grammar
    • Rules
    • Agents Forum Password Request
  • Search
  • Home
    • Award
  • For USBP Applicants
    • Academy
    • Class Schedule
    • Requirements
    • TESTING >
      • Books
      • CBP Official Guide
      • ALT
      • PT Standards
    • HOW TO SUCCEED >
      • The Hiring Procedure
      • Background Investigation >
        • Investigation Process
        • Polygraph
        • A Happy Investigator
        • NOPA >
          • NOPA Template
        • Fingerprints
      • Career Survival
      • FOIA
      • Main FAQ Page >
        • Hiring Process
        • Hiring Problems
        • Oral Boards
        • Important Phone Numbers
        • eQIP
        • Life at My New Station
        • Other Questions
        • Stupid Questions
    • COMPENSATION >
      • PAY
      • Health Insurance
      • Retirement
    • Communication >
      • Sector Recruiter Information
      • Contact Info
  • USBP Pages and Links
    • Firearms Qualification Course
    • Military Time Buy Back
    • Station MWRs
    • Uniforms, Tattoos, Grooming
    • Fast & Furious
    • U.S. Border Patrol Fallen
    • Honor First and Esprit de Corps
    • USBP Photo Galleries
    • U.S. Border Patrol History >
      • The Father of the Border Patrol
      • The U.S. Border Patrol’s Early Rank and Time-in-Service Insignia
      • Historical Documents
      • This Week in USBP History Blog
    • U.S. Border Patrol Honorary Awards
    • Upholding Honor First >
      • Newton-Azrak Award Recipients
      • USBP Purple Cross Recipients
      • USBP Commendation Award Recipients
      • USBP Achievement Award Recipients
      • USBP Significant Recognition Recipients
    • U.S. Border Patrol Authorized Devices
    • Border Patrol Stories
    • What's Important Now - Academy Podcast
    • Badges
    • Veterans
    • Tips for the Media
    • Links
    • Acronyms
    • Border Patrol Locations
    • Sector/Station FaceBook Pages
    • Ten Codes
  • Online Forums
    • Grammar
    • Rules
    • Agents Forum Password Request
  • Search
Picture

This Week in USBP History, Vol. 77

2/19/2023

0 Comments

 

February 19 - February 25


Intro

Border Patrol Agent John Leslie's Newton-Azrak Award StatuetteBorder Patrol Agent John Leslie's Newton-Azrak Award Statuette
Good morning!
 
Welcome to another This Week in USBP History!

The U.S. Border Patrol's Values (Part 1)


What are the Patrol's values?  Do you know?

I guess the first thing that comes to mind is the Patrol's motto, Honor First.  But what does that mean?  Where is it defined?  

In the collection of What's Important Now (W.I.N.) videos produced by the Academy, it was a common question to ask the interviewee, with each person giving a different answer (see all of the W.I.N. videos here).  Certainly, the Patrol's values cannot be based upon the foundation of an undefined term, right?  If every employee is free to define Honor First as they wish, inevitably troubling inconsistencies will emerge.  From my experience, those inconsistencies are manifested through individual and organizational self-interest and/or complacency.  Some examples that I've personally witnessed are:
  • Violations of Prohibited Personnel Practices during promotional selections,
  • Misuse of government vehicles, specifically Home-to-Work utilization, and
  • Reluctance to follow higher level authority when the individual or those in leadership positions feel justified in their non-compliance.

Remember the question, "What are the Patrol's values?"  Does the Patrol value Honor First as just a phrase or as a cultural value?

HonorFirst has a page to define Honor First.  Below is that definition:

Honor First is the United States Border Patrol's motto and is an important part of its tradition and culture.  It reflects upon the value of integrity that is shared by the organization and its members.  Synonyms for integrity; honesty, good character, principle, ethics, morals, righteousness, virtue, decency, fairness, sincerity, truthfulness, trustworthiness - added together equal honor. 

Honor First, both organizationally and individually, can be simply described as having integrity while constraining behaviors and actions to the boundaries defined by laws, regulations, directives, policies and rules, even when difficult to do so.  Organizations and individuals that embody Honor First may inadvertently bump against those boundaries and will immediately self-correct. Organizations and individuals that do not embody Honor First, that have questionable integrity, will push against those boundaries without self-correcting.  

Admittedly, the definition is heavy on compliance to higher levels of authority, which I tent to completely support.  Of course, let me say that 100% agreement may be a rarity and that disagreements must be remedied through the appropriate channels.

So, I would present that the Patrol would benefit by defining Honor First and providing concrete guidance to the foundational "watchword" of the organization.  Such a definition would inevitably help to improve organizational culture and solidify USBP values. 

What is the origin of "Honor First?

Based on an Immigration Service index reference from 1929, coupled with the 1927 Commissioner General's report to the Secretary of the Department of Labor, it is believed that the motto originated in the El Paso District (which encompasses modern day Tucson, El Paso and Big Bend Sectors) sometime in 1926.

The excerpt from the 1927 Commissioner General's report is the earliest use of "Honor First" that has been found.  The report covers July 1926 - June 1927 (FY27).

​The border patrol is a young man's organization; it appeals strongly to the lover of the big outdoors—the primeval forests, the sunparched deserts, the mountains, and the plains; the business upon which it is engaged calls for manhood, stamina, versatility, and resourcefulness in the highest degree. "Honor first" is its watchword; privations and danger but serve as a challenge which none refuses. Unfailing courtesy to all, and helpfulness to the helpless in distress, are emphasized above every other requisite. These young men are proud of their jobs—proud of their organization—with a code of ethics unsurpassed by any similar organization of this or any other day. In the three short years of its existence it has created a priceless store of traditions. The pride of these men in their organization is equaled only by the pride and esteem in which they are held by the communities in which they operate. Spontaneous testimonials of this esteem are being constantly received by the bureau. To an almost unbelievable extent the border patrol is self-governing. Its members must be left largely to their own devices and upon their honor. The weight of popular disapproval of his fellow officers is more potent with the erring one than all the printed regulations humanly possible to devise. The uniform is sacred; it not only symbolizes authority, the law's majesty and all the power of the Federal Government, but it entails obligations upon the wearer in the way of deportment which are intuitively recognized and scrupulously observed.

In an El Paso District Selection Letter from 1930 that was given to newly hired Border Patrol Inspectors, Honor First was given as an organizational value and as its watch-word.  Those new hires were instructed to "RESIGN NOW" if they could not live up to the concept.
​
​The Border Patrol trademarked the phrase "Honor First" on August 17, 2010 and renewed the trademark October 7, 2019.

A page from the 1927 Commissioner General's report to the Secretary of the Department of Labor,
A page from the 1927 Commissioner General's report to the Secretary of the Department of Labor,
This week we start in 1904,  when Jeff Milton was recommended for the position of a Chinese Inspector. In 1930, SPI Cone killed Pedro Rodriguez, which resulted in the recommendation to replace Colt revolvers with .45 caliber automatic pistols. Lastly, in 1993, a bill was proposed to separate the U.S. Border Patrol from the INS and make it a separate agency under the Department of Justice.  Plus more!

We celebrate the heroism of 1992 Newton-Azrak Award recipient Senior Patrol Agent Jesse Collins.

​We rem
ember Border Patrol Agent John R. McCravey on the anniversary of his death.

Enjoy and 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

USBP Commendation Medal Certificate for Travis CarterUSBP Commendation Medal Certificate for Travis Carter
1904
  • On February 23, 1904, a law office wrote a letter of recommendation to the Secretary of Commerce and Labor for Jeff Milton (1861-1947) to be a Chinese Inspector.  A few things of note:
    • As per the documents (see page 5) that support Milton’s federal retirement, his federal career was in the following positions:
      • Mounted Inspector – 1887-1889
      • Chinese Inspector – 1904-1913
      • Immigrant Inspector – 1913-1932
    • The letter of recommendation is the oldest document that I collected from the National Archives.

1928
  • A significant incident, which could have led to what would be referred to today as a “blue on green” occurred on February 20, 1928, near Fabens, Texas. Border Patrol Inspector Henry Busch, assisted by Deputy Sheriff Sam Hayes, had seized a Buick coupe containing 342 pints of whiskey. They were processing the seizure when approached by Mounted Customs Inspectors Tom Morris and Rogers. Mounted Customs Inspector Morris “took charge” of the automobile and liquor and demanded Border Patrol Inspector Busch show in his report that he and Rogers assisted in the seizure. “Fearing a gunfight” with the Mounted Customs Inspectors, Border Patrol Inspector Busch turned over the seizure and falsified his report.
    • ​From - HONOR FIRST:  The Story of the United States Border Patrol - Volume I by Joseph Banco

1930
  • As per these documents, on February 23, 1930, Senior Patrol Inspector (SPI) Irvin H. Cone (1902-1977) shot and killed Pedro Rodriguez in El Paso, TX.  The encounter began with Rodriguez striking SPI Cone with a pistol leaving a deep cut on Cone’s face.  There are several interesting passages in the document:
    • An early mention of “…the Narcotic Weed known along the border as “Marihuana”…”
    • Describing Rodriguez as a “bad hombre” in an official document
    • Mentioning that SPI Cone used his personal, reliable S&W revolver “… in contra distinction to a great many of the Colt revolvers which are at present furnished this Service by the War Department.”
    • The cover memo ends with a recommendation – “This office has heretofore recommend that such Colt revolvers be replaced with .45 caliber automatic pistols…”

1932
  • This memo, written February 23, 1932, from the Jacksonville District to the Commissioner-General, describes how the district’s Border Patrol shooting team took 1st place in a state-wide law enforcement competition.
    • The story of the beginnings of the USBP national pistol team can be found on the Honor First USBP History page.
  • On February 25, 1932, H.R. 11204, “Border Patrol Act, 1930” was introduced into the House.  In the late 1920’s and early 1930’s, several bills were introduced into either the House or the Senate that would merge the Immigration and Customs patrols and/or place them under the U.S. Coast Guard.
    • Please see this 1930 Congressional Record (page 12098) to see their discussions.
    • Also see this different 1930 Congressional Record concerning H.R. 11204 to transfer the USBP to the USCG. 

1956
  • Acting, Acting, Acting…. I remember before I retired, it seemed that there were many people in acting leadership roles.  Every person mentioned in this document from February 21, 1956, is in an acting role:
    • Harlon Carter (1913-1991​), Acting Assistant Commissioner, Enforcement Division
    • William P. Jaeger (1911-1974), Acting Regional Chief of Border Patrol
    • Einar Wahl (1918-2004), Acting Chief of Border Patrol
    • Acting Chief Patrol Inspector…

1993
  • There was even a bill put forward to separate the U.S. Border Patrol from the INS and to make it a separate agency under the Department of Justice. H.R. 1030 introduced in the House of Representatives on February 23, 1993, by Congressman Antony Beilenson (D-CA), was forwarded to the Judiciary Committee, where it died due to opposition from the INS and several members of the DOJ who had the ear of members of the Committee.​
    • From - HONOR FIRST: The Story of the United States Border Patrol - Volume Three 1975-1999​ by Joseph Banco

2020
  • ​On February 25, 2020, Border Patrol Agent Travis Carter, while off duty coaching a youth soccer game, encountered a person who had been struck be a car near Yuma, Arizona.  The victim had suffered a life threatening, deep laceration to his upper leg.  Taking quick action, Agent Carter without protective equipment, applied direct pressure to the injury to slow its massive bleed.  Within minutes, a Yuma Police Department Officer arrived with a tourniquet to which Agent Carter successfully applied.  Shortly thereafter, the Yuma Fire Department arrived and Agent Carter assisted their paramedics in the applications of a second ​tourniquet, dressing the wound, and loading the subject into the ambulance.  Agent Carter's performance brought great credit upon himself and the United States Border Patrol.
    • ​See more at from the Upholding Honor First page.


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
1992

Jesse Collins  
Senior Patrol Agent
Marfa Sector

On February 20, 1992, Senior Patrol Agent Jesse Collins voluntarily risked his own life and exhibited extraordinary courage rescuing a 15-year-old girl.  The girl was speeding in a car when she lost control and the car plunged into a small, deep lake, with a water temperature of 35 degrees.  When Agent Collins arrived, one Texas Department of Public Safety officer who had entered the water was struggling and having difficulty staying afloat.  Agent Collins went into the lake and assisted the DPS officer to shore.  He then went back into the lake and rescued the young girl from the sinking vehicle.  In frigid waters, Agent Collins moved behind the helpless girl and pushed her toward the bank.  After a number of pushes, each one resulting in Agent Collins going under water, they neared shallow water and a Texas police officer helped bring the girl out of the water.

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.
1987

John R. McCravey
Date of Birth:                     September 10, 1950
Entered on Duty:               September 9, 1985
Title:                                   Border Patrol Agent
End of Watch:                    February 23, 1987
 
Details:
On February 20, 1987, Agent John R. McCravey was sign cutting near Highway 98, east of Calexico, California. He joined a vehicle pursuit that involved an automobile suspected of transporting a group of smuggled aliens. The driver of the fleeing vehicle turned south on a dirt road leading back to the All American Canal, which serves as a boundary between Mexico and the United States. The billowing dust cloud made by the fleeing vehicle prevented Agent McCravey from clearly seeing the road. The reduced visibility may have contributed by diminishing his perception and reaction time, which affected his ability to react to a change in roadway grade and a turn in the road. Agent McCravey lost control of his vehicle, which overturned and rolled into the All American Canal, where it became submerged upside down.
 
Fellow officers and farm workers successfully removed Agent McCravey and the three illegal aliens he had arrested prior to getting involved in the pursuit from the vehicle. He died three days later in a San Diego, California hospital.

Gravesite
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Help spread the word!

      Enter your email address to receive notifications of new blog posts.
    Submit

    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.


    To optimize mobile viewing, only one blog per page will be visible.

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021


    I prefer that you leave comments.  However, if you wish to contact me, please do so by emailing Cliff@HonorFirst.com.

All HonorFirst.com web pages and documents are copyright 2017 - 2023 by Ray Harris.  All rights reserved.
DISCLAIMER: 
​HonorFirst.com is in no way affiliated with the Department of Homeland Security,
Customs and Border Protection, or the US Border Patrol.
The US Border Patrol is an equal opportunity employer.