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Memories of Alton Foss

By Jim Hale

The Miami Florida VVAW chapter sometimes showed up at Nixon's winter White House on Key Biscayne, when tricky Dick was in town.

I'll never forget the time we were protesting in front of the gate. Alton was on crutches and hobbled up to face the Secret Service guards and said something I could not hear.

In a rage he removed his Purple Heart medal from his fatigue jacket and hurled it over the gate.

I heard it hit smack against the side of one of the SS cars and ping as it hit the pavement.

The guards bristled and started to move toward Alton.

But after a few steps they halted.

Jim Hale is a Vietnam vet who served in the Air Force from 1965-1969. He currently lives in Fayetteville, Arkansas,

Some of the Gainesville 8 defendents walking to courthouse, July 31, 1973. John Briggs, Alton Foss, Scott Camil, Stanley Michelson, Jr., Don Perdue, and John Kniffen.