This Week in USBP History, Vol. 96

July 2 - July 8

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INTRO

Good Morning!

Welcome to another This Week in USBP History!

​Inviting Your Stories: Be a Part of USBP History

United States Border Patrol Flag

This Week in USBP History is not just a reflection of our past but an ongoing celebration of the men and women who have made the United States Border Patrol what it is today. Through our weekly posts, we aim to boost morale and instill a sense of pride and unity among all members of the USBP family.

Today, we invite YOU to be an active participant in this ongoing chronicle.

Have you served in the USBP? Do you have family or friends who have been a part of this honorable institution? Or perhaps you’re a keen observer of the USBP’s history and want to share your insights. We want to hear from you!

Call for Guest Blog Posts

We are inviting submissions for guest blog posts that align with our mission of honoring the guardians of the border, reflecting on the USBP’s legacy, and fostering organizational pride.

What We’re Looking For:

• Personal Stories: Share your personal experiences or those of loved ones who have served in the USBP.
• Historical Insights: Delve into the rich history of the USBP and unearth the stories that have shaped its legacy.
• Looking Ahead: Share your thoughts on the future of the USBP, the challenges it faces, and the qualities it needs to thrive.
• Morale Boosters: Share stories or experiences that can uplift the spirits and morale of our USBP family.

Submission Guidelines:

• Keep your post between 500-1000 words.
• Include any relevant photographs or documents.
• Make sure to cite sources where necessary.

Please email your submissions to Cliff@HonorFirst.com. This is an open and continuous invitation.

Other Ways to Contribute

Beyond blog posts, there are more ways you can contribute to HonorFirst.com and USBP history:

• Photo Galleries: Submit your USBP-related photos for inclusion in the HonorFirst Photo Galleries, which contains almost 2,000 photographs.
• Upholding HonorFirst Pages: Share photos of your USBP-related awards for inclusion in the Upholding HonorFirst pages.
• Border Patrol Stories: Submit a short story for inclusion in the Border Patrol Stories section.

And don’t forget – you can also participate in discussions and share your thoughts in the Disqus comments at the bottom of the page.

By sharing our stories, we come together as a family, united in our commitment to protect and serve. Let us continue to build a legacy that we can all be proud of.

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This week, journey with us back to 1913 when the Father of the Border Patrol, Frank Berkshire, proposed significant changes to the Mounted Inspector role. Delve into the complexities of alien deportation compliance in 1928 and the innovative strategies used to navigate bureaucratic limitations. Get a glimpse of a shooting competition in the El Paso District in 1934, and untangle the intricacies of Patrol job titles and pay grades in 1936. These stories and much more await in our exploration of the U.S. Border Patrol's rich and multifaceted history. Join us on this fascinating journey.

As we delve into the past, we also pause to honor the memory of ten Patrol heroes on the anniversary of their Newton-Azrak Award actions.

During this week, we solemnly remember nine of our fallen, including Susan L. Rodriguez and Ricardo G. Salinas, who tragically lost their lives in the same incident in 1998. It is with a heavy heart that we acknowledge the nine separate occasions on which the USBP has experienced the devastating loss of two Agents/Inspectors in a single event, totaling 18 fallen. We honor their memory and sacrifice, with their names listed below:

1. Donald Kee and William F. Buckelew in 1954
2. Douglas C. Shute and James M. Carter in 1956
3. Theodore L. Newton, Jr. and George F. Azrak in 1967
4. Friedrich Karl and John S. Blue in 1973
5. Susan L. Rodriguez and Ricardo G. Salinas in 1998
6. Jesus de la Ossa and Thomas J. Williams in 1998​
7. Travis W. Attaway and Jeremy M. Wilson in 2004
8. Ramon Nevarez, Jr. and David J. Tourscher in 2007
9. Hector R. Clark and Eduardo Rojas,  Jr. in 2011

Daniel P. Cox and Edgardo Acosta-Feliciano both fell on July 31, 2021.  However, their causes of death were not related.

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 cliff@honorfirst.com). 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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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.

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THROWBACK PHOTO OF THE WEEK

When Past Meets Present

This evocative photograph from the late 1970s/early 1980s immortalizes a moment where time converges on an arid mountainside at the US border. A couple, whose journey in search of a new life is brought to a standstill, are escorted by Border Patrol agents on horseback, reminiscent of a bygone era. Hovering in the backdrop, a modern helicopter symbolizes the dawn of a new age in immigration enforcement. Here, tradition and innovation collide, as the relentless pursuit of border security is tempered by the timeless human quest for a better life.

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DOCUMENTS AND EVENTS

1913

• On July 5, 1913, future Chief and Father of the Border Patrol Frank Berkshire (1870-1934) wrote a 5-page memo​ with recommended modifications to the position of Mounted Inspector.
  • One of the recommendations in the memo was to rename the the Mounted Inspectors to "Junior Inspectors".  
  • On a related note, in 1924, Border Patrol Inspectors had no immigration authority.  By law, authority rested with employees who had the title "Immigrant Inspector" who were paid more than Border Patrol Inspectors.  In order that Border Patrol Inspectors might receive legal authority without being paid more, the Commissioner-General wrote a proposal to the Second Assistant Secretary of the Department a Labor requesting to resurrect a plan that was used in 1913 for Mounted Watchmen, and to rename Border Patrol Inspectors, "Junior Immigrant Inspectors". See this document.

1928

• On July 3, 1928, the Thirteenth Supplement to General Order 10 was issued.  This document detailed when an alien's voluntary departure could still be in compliance with an order of deportation.
  • It should noted that many of the Bureau of Immigration General Orders have not been located, including General Order 10 that is referenced above.  I am unaware of any publication or location that contains all of the orders.

1931

• On July 2, 1931, the NRA responded to Commissioner-General Harry E. Hull's (1864-1938) letter from June 24, 1931.  The response states that Hull's letter was given to General Milton Atchison Reckord​ who was an Executive Vice-President of the NRA.
• On July 6, 1931, El Paso District Director Grover W. Wilmoth (1884-1951) sent a memo to the Commissioner-General.  The report was written by Senior Patrol Inspector Gottlieb Widmer Linnenkohl (1891-1952). Mentioned in the memo are:
  • Chief Patrol Inspector Herbert Horsley (1878-1962),
  • Senior Patrol Inspector Ammon M. Tenney (1897-1961),
  • Patrol Inspector Orin A. Toole (1901-1980), 
  • Patrol Inspector Charles Askins, Jr.​ (1907-1999)

1934

• On July 5, 1934, the Acting District Director of the El Paso District wrote a memo to the Commissioner-General touting the successes of the the El Paso and Marfa Sub-district shooting teams.  The memo provide the scores of a competition between the two sub-districts where Marfa was the winner.

1936

• On July 3, 1936, a memo​ was sent to the Secretary of Labor that identified the titles, pay grades and salary ranges of all Border Patrol positions.  There are several items of interest in the memo:
  • The pay grade "CAF" stands for Clerical, Administrative and Fiscal Service from the Classification Act of 1923​, see page 1494.  
    • The CAF pay scale was superseded with the General Schedule pay scale when the Classification Act of 1949 was passed.  The 1929 act was codified in  Chapter 51 of Title 5, United States Code,
  • Similar to today's Chief Patrol Agent position with two classes (GS-15s and SESs), there were two classes of Chief Patrol Inspectors (Class 1 paid at CAF-9, and Class 2 paid at CAF-8),
  • Unlike today, there were two classes of Assistant Chief Patrol Inspectors,
    • There's a common misunderstanding that an Assistant Chief Patrol Agent and an Assistant Chief are differentiated solely by their supervisory status. However, the truth is that both positions can encompass supervisory or non-supervisory roles, as outlined in their specific job descriptions. Therefore, supervisory status is not a distinguishing factor. The real differentiation lies in the title of the individual they assist. Specifically, an Assistant Chief Patrol Agent provides support to a Chief Patrol Agent, while an Assistant Chief serves the Chief of the Border Patrol. Thus, the distinctive factor is the superior they assist, rather than their supervisory capacity.

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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

1989

Charles A. Rodgers Jr.
Border Patrol Pilot
Del Rio Sector
On July 2, 1988, while patrolling the Rio Grande River near Del Rio, Texas via Service helicopter, Border Patrol Pilot Charles A. Rodgers Jr. located three persons, one male and two females, who had recently landed on the United States side of the river illegally by the use of tire inner tubes. 
 
As he circled the area, he advised the party of three, utilizing the helicopter public address system, against attempting to return to Mexico by swimming because of the depth and swiftness of the river. He noticed that the male subject, who did not heed the warning and proceeded to swim across the river towards Mexico, was having difficulty remaining above the surface. Rodgers lowered the helicopter and advised the victim to grab the landing skid. The victim managed to grasp the skid but due to exhaustion could not hold fast. Rodgers made a final attempt to save the male subject by hovering dangerously above the surface and lowered the skid into the water, but the victim apparently lost consciousness and did not surface again. He gained altitude in order to direct the rescuer and allow him to help the victim, but the rescuer was also having difficulty staying afloat. With total disregard for his personal safety, Rodgers lowered the Service helicopter perilously to the surface of the river. The rescuer was able to clutch the skid and was taken to safety on the Mexican shoreline.

Thomas W. Slowinski
Border Patrol Agent
McAllen Sector
On July 8, 1989, the roof of the Amigoland Department Store in Brownsville, Texas collapsed trapping several customers and employees inside the store.  Border Patrol Agent Thomas W. Slowinski and his Service Canine “Barco” quickly deployed to Brownsville on a search-and-rescue operation and were able to rescue numerous survivors.  While inside the building, searching for other trapped victims, another part of the roof and building collapsed; but, thankfully, Agent Slowinksi and Barco were able to find their way out of the rubble with no injuries.


1992

Darrel Welsh
Senior Patrol Agent
Tucson Sector
On July 5, 1992, the largest manhunt in the history of the State of Arizona ended when escaped fugitive Danny Ray Horning was captured by Senior Patrol Agent Darrel Welsh.  The actions of Agent Welsh were the result of a great deal of professionalism and devotion to duty.  Horning was serving multiple life sentences for armed robbery, aggravated assault, and kidnapping and burglary.  He had also been indicted for murder and dismemberment of the body of a witness against his brother in the State of California.  Following what the FBI believed a frivolous lead, Agent Welsh responded to the area of a reported sighting.  He confirmed the boot-print left by Horning and concluded he was indeed in the area.  A short time later, Agent Welsh leaped into the ditch where Horning was huddled and single-handedly took him into custody.


1998

Susan L. Rodriguez
​(1969-1998)
Border Patrol Agent
McAllen Sector
Posthumously Awarded
Ricardo G. Salinas
(1974-1998)
Border Patrol Agent
McAllen Sector
Posthumously Awarded
Orlando Sanchez
Senior Patrol Agent
McAllen Sector
Border Patrol Agent Susan L. Rodriguez and Border Patrol Agent Ricardo G. Salinas lost their lives in the line of duty on July 7, 1998.  Agent Rodriguez was the first woman female killed in the line of duty in the history of the Border Patrol.  
 
Agent Rodriguez, Senior Patrol Agent Orlando Sanchez, and Border Patrol Agent Ricardo G. Salinas had responded to assist the Cameron County Sheriff’s Office in the search for a double-murder suspect in Rio Hondo, Texas. As the agents were leaving the house where the murders took place, the suspect fired from a cornfield across from the residence and adjacent to the agent’s vehicles, and immediately hit Agent Salinas in the head.  The suspect continued firing, hitting Agent Rodriguez in the leg and neck.  The suspect continued to fire, hitting Cameron County Deputy Raul Rodriguez in the upper torso.  The suspect also directed fire at SPA Sanchez as he sought cover in an adjacent field.  SPA Sanchez returned fire.  A barrage of gunfire was exchanged between the suspect, the Sheriff’s deputies, two Harlingen Police officers and SPA Sanchez.  The suspect was hit and finally fell to the ground, dropping his weapon.
 
Agent Salinas died immediately after being shot in the head and Agent Rodriguez died enroute to the hospital.
 
SPA Sanchez was not only directly responsible for taking the suspect down, but he also tried to render aid to the fallen agents.  He radioed for help, assisted EMS personnel and continued to do all he could up until Agent Rodriguez was airlifted to the hospital where she later died.
 
Without SPA Sanchez’s quick and decisive actions, more people would have suffered injury or even death.


2022

Paul Delgado Jr.  - photo, photo 2, award set
Border Patrol Agent
Sanderson, TX
On July 5, 2021, at approximately 8:00 P.M., a vehicle loaded with subjects evaded a Texas State Trooper at speeds greater than 100 MPH along Texas Highway 349 and crashed into a rock face bursting into flames.  Sanderson Border Border Patrol Agent Paul Delgado Jr. observed the vehicle on its side and engulfed in flames.  Risking his life, he ran to the vehicle and pulled the broken windshield free to retrieve the subjects.  He reached into the vehicle to cut the seatbelts and pull the subjects free.  The flames were so hot that the plastic was melted from his Leatherman as he freed and assisted in carrying subjects that were unconscious to safety.  Agent Delgado's actions brought great credit upon himself and the United States Border Patrol.

James E. Clark - photo, award certificate, award set
Border Patrol Agent
Sanderson, TX
On July 5, 2021, at approximately 8:00 P.M., a vehicle loaded with subjects evaded a Texas State Trooper at speeds greater than 100 MPH along Texas Highway 349 and crashed into a rock face bursting into flames.  Sanderson Border Border Patrol Agent (BPA) James E. Clark responded and at the risk of death or serious harm, he secured a fire extinguisher and rushed to the burning vehicle to hold the flames at bay as much as possible while injured subjects were extracted.  Once the extinguisher was exhausted, Agent Clark entered the burning vehicle to assist further.  An explosion sounded but all subjects were removed from the vehicle before it was engulfed.  Agent Clark's actions brought great credit upon himself and the United States Border Patrol.

Caleb R. Smith - award certificate
Border Patrol Agent
Sanderson, TX
On July 5, 2021, at approximately 8:00 P.M., a vehicle loaded with subjects evaded a Texas State Trooper at speeds greater than 100 MPH along Texas Highway 349 and crashed into a rock face bursting into flames.  Sanderson Border Border Patrol Agent (BPA) Caleb R. Smith responded, while another agent used a fire extinguisher, at great personal risk of death or serious bodily harm, Agent Smith removed multiple injured subjects from the burning vehicle.  At one point, an explosion sounded, and Agent Smith pulled another agent from the vehicle to prevent harm and then returned to the burning vehicle ultimately removing all subjects. Agent Smith's actions brought great credit upon himself and the United States Border Patrol.

Leonel Calderon Jr. -  award certificate
Border Patrol Agent
Sanderson, TX
On July 5, 2021, at approximately 8:00 P.M., a vehicle loaded with subjects evaded a Texas State Trooper at speeds greater than 100 MPH along Texas Highway 349 and crashed into a rock face bursting into flames.  Sanderson Border Patrol Agent (BPA) Leonel Calderon responded at great risk or death or harm to remove subjects from the burning vehicle. One of the subjects had a distended chest due to internal injuries and multiple lacerations to the head.  The subject was combative, and BPA Calderon had to both move the uncooperative subject to safety from the flames and render life saving measure while putting himself in grave danger. Agent Calderon's actions brought great credit upon himself and the United States Border Patrol.

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U.S. BORDER PATROL FALLEN 
ANNIVERSARIES

U.S. Border Patrol Badge with a Mourning Band

As of March 6, 2023, HonorFirst.com solemnly acknowledges the loss of 154 brave individuals who have fallen in their line of duty:

• 3 Mounted Watchmen who served before 1924.
• 49 Border Patrol Inspectors who fell between 1924 and 1970.
• 101 courageous Border Patrol Agents who have given their lives since 1970.
• 1 dedicated Enforcement Analysis Specialist.

The names listed below are respected and remembered for their ultimate sacrifice in fulfilling the oath to protect and defend the United States of America.

In preserving the historical context, the descriptions about each officer's circumstances are presented with minimal editing to maintain the original "language of the day".

Complying with the Privacy Act of 1974, any causes of death related to lethal illnesses contracted in the line of duty will not be disclosed.

It's noteworthy that Border Patrol Agent John Charles Gigax's name is inscribed on the National Law Enforcement Officer's Memorial, yet his sacrifice is not officially recognized by the Customs and Border Protection or the U.S. Border Patrol.

However, ​HonorFirst.com​ proudly acknowledges and includes Agent Gigax among our memorialized heroes.

1952

Edwin H. Wheeler
Date of Birth:                   November 1, 1908
Entered on Duty:             November 12, 1940
Title:                                  Patrol Inspector in Charge
End of Watch:                  July 6, 1952
 
Details:
At about 9:45 p.m. on July 6, 1952, Patrol Inspector in Charge Edwin H. Wheeler was involved in a head-on auto collision on Highway 59 near a bridge spanning the Nueces River approximately four miles south of Mathis, Texas, in San Patricio County. Inspector Wheeler was in a government automobile traveling in a southerly direction after having been in Mathis on official business. It collided with an automobile driven by Milton Mareth, who was hospitalized with a fractured left arm. Three other passengers with Mareth received superficial cuts and bruises.
 
Shortly after the accident, Inspector Wheeler's body was discovered lying on the front seat of the automobile, which had traveled over 400 feet beyond the point of original impact. His body was positioned as though it had fallen from behind the steering wheel, giving the appearance that he had been driving the automobile.
 
Inspector Wheeler was pronounced dead by a nurse who stopped at the scene of the accident. The body was removed to a mortuary in Alice, Texas, where, at 1:30 p.m. the following day, a bullet hole was discovered in Inspector Wheeler's head. An autopsy performed on July 7, 1952, revealed death was instantaneous from a bullet wound in the head above the right ear.
 
Investigation into various aspects of the case led to the conclusion that Inspector Wheeler was shot to death by an unknown person or persons.
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Gravesite


1974

Glenn A. Phillips
Date of Birth:                    July 25, 1948
Entered on Duty:              April 30, 1973
Title:                                   Patrol Agent
End of Watch:                   July 8, 1974
 
Details:
Border Patrol Agent Glenn A. Phillips of the Chula Vista Station, Chula Vista Sector, was killed in a jeep accident on July 8, 1974. He was traveling alone on the Tijuana Street Extension, a dirt road located near the international boundary approximately one mile west of the Port of Entry at San Ysidro. Agent Phillips was responding to a call for assistance from Patrol Agent Petraglia who had spotted a group of aliens entering the United States illegally.
 
The San Diego Police Department's report indicates that Agent Phillips was traveling at approximately 20 miles per hour, probably without lights, when his jeep crashed into the front end of a parked flatbed trailer. The jeep was badly damaged and the front of the trailer extended well into the interior and to the rear of the jeep. The bed of the trailer struck the right side of Agent Phillips' face, apparently killing him instantly.

Gravesite​


1998

Susan L. Rodriguez
Date of Birth:                    July 11, 1969
Entered on Duty:              September 20, 1992
Title:                                   Border Patrol Agent
End of Watch:                   July 7, 1998
 
Details:
On July 7, 1998, Border Patrol Agent Susan Lynn Rodriguez and several other agents responded to a call for assistance from the Cameron County Sheriff’s Department south of San Benito, Texas. The Sheriff’s deputies were pursuing a double homicide suspect. Agent Rodriguez was helping to set up a perimeter in an attempt to contain the fleeing suspect in a wooded area where he was believed to be hiding.
 
As Agents Rodriguez and Ricardo Salinas walked back to their vehicle, the suspect emerged from a cornfield and began firing on them and the other law enforcement officers on the scene. During the ensuing gun battle, Agents Rodriguez and Salinas were killed.
 
Agent Rodriguez was the first female agent in the history of the United States Border Patrol to lose her life in the line of duty. At the time of her death, she was assigned to the Harlingen Station of the McAllen Sector. She was a graduate of the 261st session of the U.S. Border Patrol Academy in Glynco, Georgia.

Gravesite

Ricardo G. Salinas
Date of Birth:                    April 29, 1974
Entered on Duty:              September 8, 1997
Title:                                   Border Patrol Agent
End of Watch:                   July 7, 1998
 
Details:
On July 7, 1998, Border Patrol Agent Ricardo G. Salinas and several other agents responded to a call for assistance from the Cameron County Sheriff’s Department south of San Benito, Texas. The Sheriff’s deputies were pursuing a double homicide suspect. Agent Salinas was helping to set up a perimeter in an attempt to confine the suspect to a wooded area where he was believed to be hiding.
 
As Agents Salinas and Susan Lynn Rodriguez walked back to their vehicle, the suspect emerged from a cornfield and began firing on them and other law enforcement officers at the scene. During the ensuing gun battle, Agents Salinas and Rodriguez were killed.
 
At the time of his death, Agent Salinas was assigned to the Harlingen Station of the McAllen Sector. He was a graduate of the 351st session of the U.S. Border Patrol Academy in Charleston, South Carolina.

​Gravesite


2012

Leopoldo Cavazos, Jr.
Date of Birth                              May 12, 1983
Entered on Duty:                       May 22, 2006
Title:                                            Border Patrol Agent
End of Watch:                            July 6, 2012
 
Details:
On July 6, 2012, Border Patrol Agent Leopoldo Cavazos Jr., a six-year veteran posted at the Fort Hancock Station, died from injuries sustained in an on-duty, all-terrain vehicle accident near the Fort Hancock Port of Entry.  Agent Cavazos is survived by his wife, two daughters and a third child expected later this summer.
 
Agent Cavazos entered on duty with the U.S. Border Patrol on May 22, 2006, as a member of the 621st Session of the Border Patrol Academy. After graduating from the Academy, he was assigned to the Fort Hancock Station in the El Paso Sector.

​Gravesite​

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