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.

1910

• On October 20, 1910, the future Chief and Father of the Border Patrol, Supervising Inspector of the Southwest Border Frank Berkshire (1870-1934), wrote a memo to the Commissioner-General concerning the selection and compensation of "mounted inspectors" (which were also know as mounted watchmen and mounted guards).  Berkshire would become the 3rd person to have been "Chief of the Border Patrol".

1927

• On October 19, 1927, two separate shootings occurred in the El Paso Sub-district. This document contains the reports of both shootings. 
  • There are transmitted herewith copies of reports concerning two shooting affrays on the 19th instant, Patrol Inspectors William A. Holt and John H. Lewis being involved in one occurrence, and Patrol Inspectors Douglas D. Pyeatt and Max S.. Gleason in another. Apparently on both occasions the smugglers attempted to ambush the officers, who shot their way out of the difficulty, the smugglers escaping but leaving behind a large quantity of liquor which was seized by the patrol inspectors.
    • Patrol Inspector William A. Holt (1881-1950)
    • Patrol Inspector John H. Lewis
    • Patrol Inspector Douglas D. Pyeatt (1902-1944)
    • Patrol Inspector Max S. Gleason (1899-1952)

1929

• On October 17, 1929, the Commissioner-General responded to the Commissioner of Immigration for the Montreal District's request to appoint 4 Senior Patrol Inspectors to act as assistants to their respective sub-district Chief Patrol Inspectors.
  • In 1929, the Montreal District included 4 sub-districts which would be called "sectors" in the 1940's (Houlton, Newport, Rouses Point and Massena).
  • This memo contains the earliest reference of which I am aware of the "Assistant Chief Patrol Inspector" position. It should be further noted that all "Assistant Chief Patrol Inspectors" were Senior Patrol Inspectors using a different title.

1930

• This October 18, 1930 report details an alcohol seizure by which the Marfa Sub-district Border Patrol Inspectors and local Customs Border Patrol Inspectors combined forces to catch over 400 gallons of alcohol valued at approximately $680,000 in today's dollars.
• This PDF contains two memos and a sworn statement detailing a brief exchange of gunfire that occurred on October 16, 1930, between Border Patrol Inspectors and alcohol smugglers in El Paso, TX.
  • Patrol Inspector Paul N. Ross (1898-1950)
  • Patrol Inspector Walter L. Muehlhause (1905-2005)
    • His name is spelled incorrectly in the report.  His last name begins with an "M", not an "N".

1940

• This collection of costs to build Border Patrol facilities is signed by "H.J. Walls", Assistant Supervisor of Border Patrol".  This is the earliest known evidence of the position that would evolve to become "Deputy Chief of the Border Patrol".

1941

• On October 17, 1941, Willard Kelly (1903-1969), the 4th Chief of the Border Patrol, wrote a memo to the DOJ concerning (Immigration) Guard badges.  This memo highlights a few things:
  • Internment camps were being staffed before the U.S. entered WWII
  • Although the USBP did augment the internment camps, there was an (Immigration) Guard position that was most likely the primary position to fill that roll
  • Nicholas Donald “Nick” Collaer (1896-1977​), who is mentioned in the memo, was a Chief Patrol Inspector for the El Paso Sub-district, then the Assistant Superintendent of the El Paso District and he finished his federal career as the 7th Chief of the Border Patrol (1948-1950)
  • Finally, although not mentioned in the memo, the (Immigration) Guard uniforms are believed to have been very similar to the USBP uniforms, as the DEO uniforms were similar to the USBP uniforms in the 1990's and early 2000's.  Therefore, when looking at old internment camp photos, it is difficult to ascertain if a person in a "USBP" uniform was a (Immigration) Guard or a Border Patrol Inspector.

1953

• The Patrol Inspectors assigned to McAllen Sector were responsible for providing assistance to the Texas Department of Public Safety in protecting President Dwight Eisenhower and Mexican President Adolfo Ruiz Cortines during the dedication ceremony for the Falcón Dam on October 19, 1953. Patrol Inspectors also helped secure the motorcade route from Harlingen Air Force Base, where President Eisenhower’s plane, the Columbine (first to be designated as and use the call sign Air Force One) landed, to Zapata, Texas, and the Falcon Dam.
  • ​From - HONOR FIRST:  The Story of the United States Border Patrol - Volume II by Joseph Banco

1954

• Fences are not a new concept on the southwestern border.  See this October 20, 1954 photograph of a 2-mile fence in Nogales.

1967

• In late October 1967, 120 Patrol Inspectors were deployed to Washington, DC/Arlington, Virginia, to support the U.S. Marshals in protecting the Pentagon during what became known as the Pentagon Riot of October 21, 1967. The Patrol Inspectors were deputized as U.S. Marshals and helped the other federal agents secure the exterior of the Pentagon from what was supposed to be a peaceful protest of the Vietnam War. All were in plain-clothes and issued white helmets and batons. Batons were the only less-than-lethal tools used to control the violent rioters. No tear gas was used and the Marshals had orders to conceal and not use their firearms.
  • ​​From - HONOR FIRST:  The Story of the United States Border Patrol - Volume II by Joseph Banco

1971

• On October 20, 1971, the U.S. Border Patrol Academy graduated the 100th Session. With the graduation of the 127 Border Patrol Agent (trainees) of 100th Session, more than 7,000 Border Patrol Inspectors/Agents had completed the Academy since its formal inception in July 1940 with the 1st Session. 
  • ​From - HONOR FIRST:  The Story of the United States Border Patrol - Volume II by Joseph Banco

2004

• On October 20, 2004 the Border Patrol Basic Academy returned to Artesia, New Mexico where it remains today.  The first class to report to Artesia was session 583. The Border Patrol Academy continued to teach Spanish to all trainee agents until session 715, when trainees were able to test out of Spanish, shortening the academy to 55 days for those able to pass the Spanish Proficiency Test.  Traditionally agents begin their careers on the southern Border.  In August of 2008, session 803 was the first class with trainees reporting to the Northern U.S. Border since 1950.

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​

2016

Juan Cruz Jr. - ​photo
Border Patrol Agent
Weslaco, Texas
Marcus K. Johnson - photo
Border Patrol Agent
Weslaco, Texas
The incident occurred on October 19, 2015, at approximately 2:00 a.m. Border Patrol Agents Juan Cruz, Jr. and Marcus K. Johnson responded to a call for assistance by agents working border enforcement duties near the Hidalgo, Texas, Settling Basin. A subject had jumped into the water basin and was struggling to stay afloat. The potential victim was frantically screaming for help and periodically dipping below the surface of the water. The agents quickly improvised a safety line from tow straps and courageously entered the dark, cold water in an attempt to rescue the subject. 

Unfortunately, the improvised safety line was not long enough to reach the subject and the dangerous conditions forced the agents to return to land. Cruz swam out for a second time in an attempt to throw the subject a floatation device, but that attempt also failed due to the subject’s panicked state of mind. Upon the arrival of the City of Hidalgo’s Fire Department, the agents were informed that the fire department would not attempt a rescue due to policy constraints dealing with the dangers involved in a night time water rescue.

Both Cruz and Johnson ignored the injuries they had suffered to their bare feet on their previous rescue attempts and for a third time volunteered to try to rescue the subject. They borrowed life vests from the fire department and re-entered the dangerous water. On the third attempt, the agents managed to reach the subject and provide him with a life vest and were able to successfully extract him from the water without further incident.

The subject was examined by emergency medical technicians at the scene and found to be in good health and not in need of further medical attention. Both Cruz and Johnson were treated for their injuries at a local hospital and released the same night.

As of May 16, 2022, the U.S. Border Patrol has suffered 152* fallen.
Titles:

• 3 Mounted Watchmen fell before 1924 and are carried as Border Patrol fallen
• 48 Border Patrol Inspectors fell between 1924 and 1970
• 100 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.

*With the exception of two of the fallen immediately below, all names are listed (or in the process of being included) on the official Honor Roll of U.S. Border Patrol Fallen and inscribed on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.  The U.S. Border Patrol should fix these discrepancies. HonorFirst.com honors both of the fallen.

• Joe R. White - He is recognized as officially fallen by the U.S. Border Patrol but his name is not inscribed on the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial.
• John Charles Gigax - He is not recognized as officially fallen by Customs and Border Protection or the U.S. Border Patrol. He is remembered by all except his own agency with his name being inscribed on 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).

1922

Charles Gardiner
Date of Birth:                     February 5, 1882
Entered on Duty:               August 15, 1918
Title:                                  Mounted Watchman
End of Watch:                   October 21, 1922

​Details
Mounted Guard Charles Gardiner was shot and killed without warning by the driver of a wagon loaded with smuggled liquor. Gardiner was approaching the vehicle to inspect it when the unprovoked attack occurred. The report indicated that he approached a one-horse wagon containing two Mexicans for the purpose of questioning them as to their immigration status and that they jumped from the wagon, immediately firing upon him from close range.

Death Certificate
​
Survivor benefits - As per this document, his wife received $66.67 per month for her and their four children.  Then $49.50 for her and one child.

​Gravesite

1956

John A. Rector
Date of Birth:                August 23, 1898
Entered on Duty:          March 13, 1928
Title:                              Patrol Inspector
End of Watch:               October 16, 1956
 
Details:
At approximately 11:30 a.m., October 16, 1956, Patrol Inspector John A. Rector was accidently shot by the firing of a .357 Magnum revolver by fellow officer, Bill Jordan. The mishap occurred at the Chula Vista Sector Headquarters as two officers were discussing various guns and their limitations and advantages. During the course of the conversation, the .357 Magnum was unloaded, examined, then reloaded, and placed in a desk drawer. The two officers then examined a .22 revolver and soon the discussion returned to the .357 Magnum. At this point, Patrol Inspector Jordan reached into the desk drawer, picked up the pistol, and without realizing that it had been reloaded, pulled the trigger.
 
The bullet passed through a partition wall into Patrol Inspector Rector's office where it struck him in the left jaw and ranged up through his head. Upon arrival of an ambulance and a doctor, Patrol Inspector Rector was removed to the Paradise Valley Hospital in National City. Two neurosurgeons from San Diego were called; however, nothing could be done for Inspector Rector. He died at approximately 2:00 p.m. the same day.

Gravesite​

1967

Elgar B. Holliday
Date of Birth:                October 6, 1911
Entered on Duty:          June 19, 1944
Title:                             Senior Patrol Inspector
End of Watch:              October 18, 1967
 
Details:
In September 1967, Hurricane Beulah struck the lower Rio Grande Valley and adjacent areas causing extensive wind and flood damage. During the emergency, Patrol Inspectors rendered assistance in the protection of life and property, performing exhaustive and arduous tasks and working long periods of time without rest or relief. Senior Patrol Inspector Elgar B. Holliday was engaged in continuous emergency work assignments for three days. During the third day, September 24, 1967, he was stricken, suffering from extreme shortness of breath and pains in the chest. Showing signs of complete exhaustion, he was taken to a doctor, who gave him an injection and diagnosed the difficulty as heart failure due to over-exertion. Mr. Holliday was subsequently placed in the St. Joseph's Hospital, Houston, Texas, where he died on October 18, 1967.

​Gravesite

• ...Patrol Inspector “Doc” Holliday was considered “The Father of the Border Patrol Canine Program” for his pioneer work in McAllen, El Centro and other Southwest Sectors training handlers and working with a variety of dogs. “Doc” Holliday would later become the “Senior” of the Falfurrias Station, TX, and would die in the line of duty succumbing to over-exertion resulting in a heart attack on October 18, 1967 as he was engaged in rescue and emergency relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Beulah. “Doc” Holliday had been working for three long days rendering assistance and performing arduous tasks with little rest.
  • ​From - HONOR FIRST:  The Story of the United States Border Patrol - Volume II by Joseph Banco

1979

Weldon Smith
Date of Birth:                July 18, 1939
Entered on Duty:          November 2, 1970
Title:                             Aircraft Pilot
End of Watch:              October 19, 1979
 
Details:
During the afternoon of October 19, 1979, Pilot Weldon Smith had been working with ground agents Roxy D. Kieffe and Frank Ureta, Jr., of Rio Grande City Border Patrol Station. They were trailing aliens on the Gallagor Ranch, about 10 miles north of Guerra, Jim Hogg County, Texas. Pilot Smith returned to McAllen to refuel. As he was returning to the location of the aliens, he passed about 100 feet over Kieffe, relocated the trail, and started relaying the location to Kieffe. He said, "I found the tr-" and quit transmitting in mid-sentence. Officer Kieffe did not see the crash, but saw the smoke and ran toward it. The plane was completely engulfed in flames, destroyed by the impact and fire. Pilot Smith died on initial impact. A Justice of the Peace from Hebbronville, Texas, held an inquest upon arrival at the scene of the accident and pronounced Pilot Smith dead. Subsequent investigation determined that the aircraft had stalled and the pilot was unable to recover from the stall.

​Gravesite

1998

Jesus de la Ossa
Date of Birth:                June 21, 1965
Entered on Duty:          November 28, 1993
Title:                              Senior Patrol Agent
End of Watch:               October 20, 1998
 
Details:
On Tuesday, October 20, 1998, at 7:00 p.m., Agents Jesus De La Ossa and Thomas J. Williams were traveling to San Diego after successfully completing the Border Patrol Academy Instructor’s Course. They were involved in a head-on collision with another vehicle and lost their lives in the accident, which happened about 15 miles west of Artesia, New Mexico.
 
Agent De La Ossa was born in Nogales, Arizona. Before entering the Border Patrol, Agent De La Ossa served as a military policeman in the U.S. Air Force. He joined the INS as a Border Patrol Agent and was later promoted to Senior Patrol Agent. At the time of his death, his official station was Brown Field, California. He was a graduate of the 264th session of the U.S. Border Patrol Academy in Glynco, Georgia.

​Gravesite

Thomas J. Williams
Date of Birth:                July 21, 1966
Entered on Duty:          May 5, 1994
Title:                              Senior Patrol Agent
End of Watch:               October 20, 1998
 
Details:
On Tuesday, October 20, 1998, at 7:00 p.m., Agents Thomas J. Williams and Jesus De La Ossa were traveling to San Diego after successfully completing the Border Patrol Academy Instructor’s Course. They were involved in a head-on collision with another vehicle and lost their lives in the accident, which happened about 15 miles west of Artesia, New Mexico.
 
Agent Williams was born in Hazel Green, Wisconsin. He graduated from Western Illinois University Magna Cum Laude with a degree in criminal justice. He served in the Navy for four years, two of which were served on the submarine USS Henry Clay. He joined the INS as a Border Patrol Agent and was later promoted to Senior Patrol Agent. At the time of his death, his official station was Brown Field, California. He was a graduate of the 266th session of the U.S. Border Patrol Academy in Glynco, Georgia.

​Gravesite

The green bubbles below are links.

Click to explore!

The Creation of the HonorFirst Website and Delphi Forums

​

The internet saw its popularity begin to grow in the mid-1990.  About that time, Ray Harris realized that there were no sites that contained information on the U.S. Border Patrol and its hiring process.  To address that shortfall, sometime around 1998, Ray created a one-page website that consisted of a simple announcement that the Border Patrol was hiring.  The site had a green background with a green font and included his email address.  Here is a capture of the website from 1999​.

After launching the site, Ray was soon was overwhelmed with applicants requesting additional information. In his attempt to answer the flood of applicants, Ray spent approximately four hours on the telephone per day speaking to applicants.  Realizing the unsustainable pace was problematic, Ray found a solution with Delphi Forums.  In March of 1998, Ray created an open forum that evolved to be the Agent's Forum.   The idea behind the forum was for people who were in the hiring process, and agents, to offer assistance to new applicants in navigating the convoluted hiring process.  At the time, the Agent's Forum was the only LEO forum on Delphi.  In the following year, Ray created the Applicant's Forum.

Ray realized that the government seemed to have no intention of creating a website to inform and assist applicants. Therefore, he expanded the information contained on HonorFirst.com and switched website providers.  HonorFirst.com  was dedicated exclusively to assisting Border Patrol recruiting and helping applicants.  Since its inception, the Applicant's Forum has accumulated over 48,000 members, with over 3.7 million additional people visiting. 

​The significant impact of the site became apparent when Ray received a call from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) stating that HonorFirst.com was skewing their statistics.  To correct the anomalies, OPM assigned a code to collect statistics of applicants who applied from HonorFirst.com.

​Years later, Ray received a call from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) requesting to use content from HonorFirst.com to help establish what would evolve into today's CBP Border Patrol hiring page.  Since then, CBP's hiring websites have improved and are great sources of information for applicants. 

In March 2021, Ray invited recently retired Assistant Chief Clifford Gill to assist in moderating the Delphi forums and to be a webmaster for HonorFirst.com.  Cliff has built on the solid foundation created by Ray and has expanded HonorFirst.com to include pages to attract current and former Border Patrol agents as well as those interested in the USBP.

USBP - W.I.N. E30: Ret. Assistant Chief Clifford Gill​

Chief Patrol Agent Jason Owens, interviews Retired Assistant Chief Clifford Gill. Clifford Gill is considered the first Border Patrol Historian. Gill discusses several myths regarding Border Patrol history. Topics include the actual founder of the Border Patrol, and the first established Border Patrol Station.

The photograph above was taken of Cliff in December 2018 at the National Archives in Washington DC.  At the time, he was the USBP's historian was discovering many of the documents that were used to create this newsletter.  

Joe Banco and Cliff have spent 100s of hours in that room constructing lost USBP history.