USBP Commendation Award Recipients

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
  • 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.
Awards of the U.S. Border Patrol Commendation for acts of extraordinary heroism are distinguished with the addition of a “V” device affixed to the suspension ribbon and ribbon bar.

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

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.
Clifford A. Gill
Citation for extraordinary heroism
​
On January 13, 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.
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.
Travis J. Carter
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.
Shon McNeal
Citation for exceptional meritorious service

On June 6, 2021, off duty Border Patrol Agent Shon McNeal, while en route to his station, observed a single vehicle accident on Interstate 10 near Buckeye, Arizona. BPA McNeal immediately stopped to render aid to the sole occupant of the vehicle.  The driver had sustained a head injury and a severed arm.  BPA McNeal immediately applied a tourniquet to the subject's left upper arm.  BPA McNeal remained on scene and continued to evaluate the subject's condition until EMS arrived.  BPA McNeal went above and beyond the call of duty.  His life saving technique of applying a tourniquet ultimately prevented the driver from succumbing to her injuries.  ​BPA McNeal's actions brought great credit upon himself and the United States Border Patrol.
Honor First notes - Due to space limitations on award certificates, it is common for many details of the action to be omitted in the narrative.  Such was the case in Agent McNeal's action.  When Agent McNeal drove toward the accident to help the victim, he had to cross two lanes of highway traffic. In the smoke, dust and confusion of the scene, Agent McNeal was nearly struck by two trucks.  As he was nearing the accident, he saw people that had arrived shortly before him moving away, which he thought odd.  When he got to the victim, he knew why the bystanders were moving away.  The victim had suffered an amputated arm just below her elbow.  He could smell the strong metallic odor of blood.  He saw that another person had attempt to apply a tourniquet but the victim was still bleeding profusely. He then applied a tourniquet from a first aid kit that he always carried, stopped the bleeding and saved her life.

Agent McNeal still maintains contact with the victim.  She is adapting to life as an amputee with the added challenge of having lost her dominate side arm.

Agent McNeal's actions not only uphold Honor First but provide an example to which all should strive to emulate.