USBP Commendation Award Recipients
*** Under construction ***
Originally designed to be the USBP Distinguished Career Service Award under the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), the designed was repurposed as the USBP Commendation Award. Although the USBP Distinguished Career Service Award existed in the INS, the medal set was never authorized or issued. Any of the USBP Distinguished Career Service Awards in existence were created as prototypes and never presented to a recipient.
Design
TIOH began with the obverse of the Great Seal of the United States. The field of 13 stars were replaced with the USBP patch. The USBP motto, "Honor First" was placed on the ribbon between the wings and the USBP patch. The USBP's year of inception, "1924", was placed on the shield. The 22 stars represent the 21 sectors that existed at the time the award was designed plus the USBP Academy.
USBP Commendation Award graphic by TIOH.
Criteria
Awarded to an employee or a group for exceptional meritorious achievement or service. The acts or services must be accomplished or performed in a manner above that normally expected, and sufficient to distinguish the recipient(s) above those performing similar services, or
To add your USBP Commendation Award to this page, send an email to cliff@honorfirst.com. Please include a photo of the award, certificate and other relevant information.
Design
TIOH began with the obverse of the Great Seal of the United States. The field of 13 stars were replaced with the USBP patch. The USBP motto, "Honor First" was placed on the ribbon between the wings and the USBP patch. The USBP's year of inception, "1924", was placed on the shield. The 22 stars represent the 21 sectors that existed at the time the award was designed plus the USBP Academy.
USBP Commendation Award graphic by TIOH.
Criteria
Awarded to an employee or a group for exceptional meritorious achievement or service. The acts or services must be accomplished or performed in a manner above that normally expected, and sufficient to distinguish the recipient(s) above those performing similar services, or
- Awarded to an individual or a group for extraordinary lifesavings efforts not involving heroism,
- Awarded to an individual for extraordinary heroism, not justifying the Newton-Azrak Award, or
- Awarded to a group for extraordinary heroism.
To add your USBP Commendation Award to this page, send an email to cliff@honorfirst.com. Please include a photo of the award, certificate and other relevant information.
Award links
Recipients
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Ray Harris
Citation for exceptional meritorious service
Since 1996, retired Immigration Special Agent and 17-year U.S. Border Patrol veteran Ray Harris has maintained honorfirst.com and an accompanying applicant message forum, both of which he created. For over two decades, the applicant's forum has posted more than 580,00 questions, responses and comments. The forum boasts nearly 48,000 members with nearly 3.5 million guest visits. Honorfirst.com receives over 1,000 visits per week. No single person has had a greater, positive impact on U.S. Border Patrol recruitment efforts than Ray Harris. Mr. Harris' efforts have brought great credit upon himself to the benefit and gratitude of the U.S. Border Patrol. |
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Clifford A. Gill
Citation for extraordinary heroism
On January 11, 2000, while performing line watch duties near Laredo, TX, Agent Gill observed two subjects struggling to stay afloat in the Rio Grande River. At great personal risk, Agent Gill entered the river to rescue the individuals who were facing certain death. Upon reaching the victims, he kept them both above water by lifting them over his head while submerging himself. He remained underwater gaining footholds the river boom to propel them to the riverbank, only surfacing to take gasping breaths. Agent Gill's actions brought great credit to himself and the United States Border Patrol. |
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Joseph Banco
Citation for exceptional meritorious service
In 2013, the Central American Advisory Support and Training Operations Team developed a plan compliment the international strategy of U.S. Customs and Border Protection by deploying advisors to five Central American countries. As part of the plan, the agency conducted its first regional border protection unit training in Panama. The team also conducted developmental training for the first standalone border police agency in Costa Rica. In recognition of numerous successes, the team was awarded the Commissioner's Exceptional Service Medal. Their performance brought great credit upon themselves and the United States Border Patrol. |
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Travis J. Carter
had Citation for exceptional meritorious service
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. |
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