Good morning!
 
Welcome to another This Week in USBP History!  

*** News Flash ***

Recently, I have been referencing retired Deputy Chief Patrol Agent Joe Banco's USBP history books in the these emails. If you haven't already, please visit and explore his website at - www.migrajoe.com​ and visit the Border Patrol Museum's Gift Shop to purchase his books.  Thanks!

Now to the intro...

Yesterday, I watched the latest ​What's Important Now (WIN S2 E9) video from the Border Patrol Academy.  Academy Chief Patrol Agent Ryan Landrum interviewed Tony Barker, the Acting Chief of the Law Enforcement Operations Directorate which is the USBP's #3 position.  Near the end of the video, at the 42:30 mark, Chief Barker speaks of what keeps him up at night.  He began his answer with, "the health of the organization".  He was referring to the men and women of the U.S. Border Patrol, the workforce.  He wants them to be, "healthy, resilient, strong, confident."  Which got me thinking...

Every week, I include the Esprit de Corps section.  That's how important I believe it to be.  The interesting thing about Esprit de Corps, organizational pride, and employee morale, is that they are not based on facts... They are based on employees' perceptions.  They are based on how employees feel.  They may be gauged, in large part, on the employees' answers to the following questions:

• Am I part of a meaningful team that is rich in history, tradition and culture?
• Am I valued by the organization?
• Am I doing meaningful work?

It is the challenge of every leader that their employees answer each of those questions with a resounding "Yes".  Anything short of a resounding "Yes" may be evident in such things as:

• The Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey
  • CBP is consistently in the bottom 10% of the federal government
• Unsatisfactory attrition and retention rates
  • USBP manpower projections are concerning

There are other examples I could provide, but you get the point...

Now, the USBP is second to none in responding to emergencies experienced by the workforce. There is a cadre of incredible Border Patrol Chaplains and Peer Support members to respond at a moment's notice, especially when an employee suffers a crisis.  When a USBP employee is killed in the line of duty, the Honor Guard will never leave the fallen's side until the time of interment.  These are great and fantastic supports!  But, valuing the workforce is more than supporting them during emergencies, it's being there, supporting them, every day.

Using myself as an example...  I retired at 51 years old, from a position that I had proposed and was approved, and that I absolutely loved.  I was the USBP's Historian, regularly visiting the National Archives, uncovering gems of the Patrol's history that had been lost.  I was Patrol's Awards Coordinator, tirelessly advocating to better recognize the incredible and worthy actions of the workforce. But I answered one of the questions above in the negative.  My perception remained unchanged until retirement was the best option for me.  However, it would have been very easy for my leadership to have changed my perception...

While assigned to HQ, we would commonly brief leadership on various initiatives.  There was a catch phrase, Getting them to the "yes", which meant convincing leadership to approve the proposal. Years later and I realize, Getting them to the "yes", has another meaning that may be more important to the Patrol.  It's not about getting leadership to the "yes", it's about leadership getting the workforce to the "yes".  Leadership, for the benefit of the workforce and the organization, must get employees to the "yes"!

Employees ask themselves:

• Am I part of a meaningful team that is rich in history, tradition and culture?
  • Leadership must know the Patrol to guide employees to the "yes".  Joe Banco's books provide a great foundation!
• Am I valued by the organization?
  • Actions speak louder than words. Leadership must always have a bias for the workforce.  It's not about being in charge, it's about taking care of those in your charge. (Simon Sinek​)
• Am I doing meaningful work?
  • The Patrol must define organizational success that is separate and immune from numbers of releases, removals, or convictions (all outside of the Patrol's control).

Forgive me for getting a bit soapboxy there.  My passion for the Patrol and the workforce was ignited.  Hopefully, you found it informative and/or inspiring.

Now to this week's email!

This week begins with a 1911 document modifying the per diem rate for Mounted Inspectors.  It was 43 years ago this week that authorization was given to create BORTAC. We also celebrate the Newton-Azrak Award anniversary by which 8 Blythe Station agents were involved in a harrowing gunfight.

We also remember four of our fallen on the anniversaries of their deaths. 

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 attach them to a reply to this email).
• If this email doesn't render well, please follow the "View in Browser" link in the upper right corner.
• As always, make sure to explore all of the hyperlinks to documents and pages.
• Finally, please forward this email to whomever you think may enjoy it.

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.

1911

• On September 16, 1911, Acting Commissioner-General Frank H. Larned (1861-1937) wrote memo to the Secretary of Labor concerning the compensation of "mounted inspectors", specifically their per diem rates.
  • I searched each of the mentioned Mounted Inspector names. I can find no evidence that any of them became Border Patrol Inspectors.

1924

• On September 14, 1924, the new Immigration Border Patrol suffered its first line of duty death. Although a result of gunfire, Patrol Inspector James Mankin’s death was an accident resulting from the discharge of a .30 caliber government rifle which slipped out of the vehicle as two of Mankin’s partners were loading it after “cutting sign” on the banks of the Rio Grande River near Laredo Texas. The hammer of the rifle struck the running board discharging the rifle with the round striking Patrol Inspector Mankin behind his right ear.
  • ​From - HONOR FIRST:  The Story of the United States Border Patrol - Volume I by Joseph Banco
  • For several years, Inspector Mankin was not carried in the rolls of the Immigration Service's honored fallen.  This is evident by his name being omitted in the 1927 Commissioner-General's Annual Report to the Secretary of Labor (pg 18).

1926

• On September 16, 1926, Border Patrol Inspector Frank Edgell induced 47 hostile Yaqui Indians to surrender peacefully to him. Back then, the press initially carried a different version of events, with the Yaquis kidnapping federal agents. The condensed version of the actual events is as follows and is primarily from the accounting of Mary Kidder Rak from her 1938 book, Border Patrol.
  • ​From - HONOR FIRST:  The Story of the United States Border Patrol - Volume I by Joseph Banco

1927

• Organizationally, the USBP has always prided itself on its involvement in various activities not exactly aligned with its primary mission set.  Examples are the thwarting an aircraft highjacking, providing assistance to the USMS during segregation issues, deploying to Los Angeles during the riots, etc, etc, etc...  This September 17, 1927 document  is the earliest example of which I have found where the USBP stepped out of its traditional role.  In this case, Border Patrol Inspectors were making plans to provide security for Colonel C. Lindbergh and the Spirit of St. Louis which was schedule to land in Tucson.
  • The document was written by Tucson Sub-district Chief Patrol Inspector Samual F. Gray (1897-1966).  He was in the USBP for only 3.5 years.  

1942

• USBP time-in-service insignia was implemented in 1928 with an amendment to the its first Uniform Policy, General Order 42.  By 1942, the old bars and stars embroidered insignia (the image changes every 7 seconds) was discontinued to the modern stars as is evident in this September 16, 1942 document written by William H. Wagner (1877-1956). 

1943

• On September 15, 1943, INS Commissioner Earl G. Harrison (1899-1955) forwarded  a memo describing the reorganization of agency's field offices from 22 districts to 16 districts.  The document also includes a map of the districts.
  • In 1924, the Immigration Service has 35 districts (See this document, pg. 93-94). Eleven of those districts were adjacent to the border and received Border Patrol Inspectors when the USBP was created.

1954

• On September 17, 1954, with the transfer of a C-46 military surplus plane (N-1804M) from the U.S. Air Force. Two additional C-46s with a 50-passenger capacity were transferred in September 1954, providing the U.S. Border Patrol with an economical means of air transport for large numbers of aliens and other passengers where and when needed.
  • From - HONOR FIRST:  The Story of the United States Border Patrol - Volume II by Joseph Banco

1965

• ​Beginning on September 15, 1965, Mexican Passports and nonimmigrant visas were no longer required from Mexican nationals in possession of a border crossing card wishing to enter the U.S. for business or pleasure not to exceed six months.
  • From - HONOR FIRST:  The Story of the United States Border Patrol - Volume II by Joseph Banco

1982

• As per this document, the Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC) was authorized on September 16, 1982.
  • The document was written by Thomas C. Leupp (Class 91)

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​

2017

Felix A. Ortiz
Border Patrol Agent
Blythe, California
Rafael De Leon
Border Patrol Agent
Blythe, California
Juan Zuniga
Border Patrol Agent
Blythe, California
Alberto Lorona
Border Patrol Agent
Blythe, California
Victor H. Herrera
Border Patrol Agent
Blythe, California
Erik Herrera
Border Patrol Agent
Blythe, California
Reyes Fimbres
Border Patrol Agent - Intelligence
Blythe, California
Michael Rosamond
Supervisory Border Patrol Agent
Blythe, California
On September 13, 2017, at approximately 1:20 a.m., Arizona's La Paz County Sheriff s Office called requesting assistance. The Arizona Department of Public Safety had a subject being held at gunpoint subsequent to a traffic stop on Interstate 10 westbound at Mile Marker 57 in Arizona. Shots were fired at the trooper by the driver of a vehicle, who then fled the scene. The trooper remained on scene with one subject at gunpoint, unable to initiate pursuit of the fleeing vehicle. Agents from the Blythe Integrated Targeting Team (ITT) responded to the call for assistance.
 
Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Michael Rosamond assigned Blythe ITT agents to areas he believed the vehicle may be fleeing. Agent Rosamond witnessed a vehicle matching the description of the fleeing vehicle pass his position.
 
Agent Rosamond tried to initiate a vehicle stop; Border Patol Agents Juan Zuniga and Felix Ortiz assisted as secondary/backup agents. The driver failed to yield. Then, the vehicle began to pull to the shoulder, then slow rolled to a stop, in the westbound lanes. As the subject rolled to a stop, the driver exited the vehicle, shooting at the agents approximately four to five times. While under fire and with their vehicle being struck by gunfire, Agent Zuniga was able to return two rounds of fire. The driver fled toward the eastbound lanes on foot and hijacked a big-rig. Agents Zuniga and Ortiz continued the pursuit of the big-rig; Agent Rosamond remained with the vehicle and the driver of the big-rig to secure the scene as evidence.
 
As the driver was absconding in the hijacked big rig there was an exchange of gunfire with Border Patrol Agent Reyes Fimbres on the Exit 17 off-ramp.
 
Blythe ITT Border Patrol Agents Victor Herrera, Erik Herrera, Juan Zuniga, and Felix Ortiz experienced a further exchange of gunfire with the subject on Main Street in Quartzsite, Arizona. At this time the subject was driving the big-rig in reckless regard for public safety, creating the potential of injury, death and significant property destruction. Blythe ITT agents Rafael De Leon and Alberto Lorona arrived on scene to assist. After the final exchange of gunfire, the subject was in custody. Agents rendered first aid on the scene and Emergency Medical Service responded shortly thereafter. Despite their life-saving efforts, the subject succumbed to his injuries while in route to the hospital.

Honor First note - This is the last Newton-Azrak Award given to a group.  In 2018, the award's criteria changed.  Since then, the award can only be given to individuals based on their specific actions during an event.

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).

1924

James F. Mankin
Date of Birth:                     April 5, 1902
Entered on Duty:               July 28, 1924
Title:                                   Patrol Inspector
End of Watch:                    September 14, 1924

Details:
At about 4:30 p.m., September 14, 1924, Patrol Inspector James F. Mankin was killed by the accidental discharge of a service rifle. The accident occurred about 18 miles northeast of Laredo near the Rio Grande River where Patrol Inspector Mankin, along with Patrol Inspectors Buck West and Ralph R. Dockum, were patrolling in a government vehicle. The officers, upon reaching the banks of the river, alighted from the car to determine whether any crossings had been made. Upon returning to the car, Patrol Inspector Mankin, who had been driving, entered the vehicle and seated himself behind the steering wheel. Patrol Inspector Dockum prepared to enter the back seat of the car from the left side and Patrol Inspector West was to enter the back seat from the right side of the automobile.  There were two rifles in scabbards in the back of the car along with camping gear and other articles.
 
The two officers were rearranging the items in the back of the car in order to make more room for themselves when a .30 caliber government rifle slipped out of the car, the hammer striking the running board and discharging the gun.  The bullet struck the back of the front seat about six inches below the top. The bullet split, one part ricocheting to the left, striking the bow over the back seat and passing within a few inches of Dockum's face. The other part of the bullet ricocheted to the right through the upholstering of the front seat, striking Inspector Mankin behind the right ear.
Inspector Mankin died less than thirty minutes after the accident.

NOTE: For several years, Inspector Mankin was not carried in the rolls of the Immigration Service's honored fallen.  This is evident by his name being omitted in the 1927 Commissioner-General's Annual Report to the Secretary of Labor (pg 18).

Survivor benefits - As per this document, his mother received $20 per month for 8 years.

Gravesite

2009

Trena R. McLaughlin
Date of Birth:                April 3, 1950
Entered on Duty:          October 14, 1984
Title:                             Supervisory Border Patrol Agent
End of Watch:              September 14, 2009
 
Details:
On July 14, 1994, Border Patrol Agent Trena McLaughlin was stuck with a syringe while searching a vehicle in Temecula, California.  As a result of this incident, Agent McLaughlin tested positive for Hepatitis C in 1998.
 
After medically retiring from the Border Patrol in 2002, Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Trena McLaughlin died of liver failure on September 14, 2009.
 
Agent McLaughlin served with the United States Border Patrol for 18 years and was a member of the 167th session of the Border Patrol Academy assigned to the Temecula Station later renamed the Newton-Azrak Station in the San Diego Sector.

Burial Details Unknown

2012

Jeffrey Ramirez
Date of Birth                 February 6, 1987
Entered on Duty:          September 1, 2008
Title:                              Border Patrol Agent
End of Watch:               September 15, 2012
 
Details:
On September 15, 2012, Border Patrol Agent Jeffrey Ramirez, died at the age of 25. Agent Ramirez had been hospitalized in Laredo, Texas since the onset of a heat-related illness on August 22, 2012.
 
Agent Ramirez entered on duty with the U.S. Border Patrol on September 1, 2008, as a member of Border Patrol Academy Class 810. Following graduation from the Academy, he was assigned to the Hebbronville Station in the Laredo Sector.
 
Agent Ramirez is survived by his parents, sister, two brothers, son and a girlfriend. His brother is a Border Patrol Agent at the Freer Station.

​Gravesite

2014

Tyler R. Robledo
Date of Birth                 May 1, 1980
Entered on Duty:          September 8, 2011
Title:                             Border Patrol Agent
End of Watch:              September 12, 2014
 
Details:
On September 12, 2014, Border Patrol Agent Tyler R. Robledo was involved in a two-vehicle accident near Carrizo Springs, Texas. Agent Robledo died of his injuries at the hospital shortly after the accident. The driver of the other vehicle also died. Agent Robledo was 34 years old at the time of his death and leaves behind his wife and two children.
 
Agent Robledo entered on duty with the U.S. Border Patrol on September 8, 2011, as a member of the 988th session of the Border Patrol Academy. He was stationed at the Carrizo Springs Station at the time of his death.

​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 email.  

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