Lauren Glendenning, lglendenning@vailtrail.com
April 23, 2008

Tom Jost, a Vietnam veteran and a retired surgeon, describes himself as a patriotic American who has joined the fight against illegal immigration. The 75-year-old East Vail resident travels to the New Mexico border about twice a year with a group called Patriots’ Border Alliance to form a human fence. He says he does it because he loves his country. – by Lauren Glendenning

How do you feel about the illegal immigration problem in this country?
I am not against immigration. I am against illegal immigration, but I am 100 percent in favor of legal immigration. If they come here legally, as far as I’m concerned, they’re more than welcome.

Tell me about the work you do for Patriots’ Border Alliance.
It used to be that we were aligned with the Minuteman Project, but we separated from that and now we’re under the leadership of Bob Wright, a very competent and good individual. We essentially go to the New Mexico border at least twice a year, April and October usually. It’s essentially a camp-out, but I don’t camp out well, so I usually stay in a motel close by. … We pair up and space out a particular distance from each other. ... Once we get to the location and set up, we just wait.

Does the group use force against the immigrants?
We have a code that we will not have contact with illegals. We will not touch them or talk to them. We will give them only emergency lifesaving care.

Once we do see illegals coming, we note, as well as we can, their number.

We note if they are running or walking, their direction and the time that we observe them, and we immediately call the border patrol, which are usually close by. We don’t chase them or anything like that. … (Patriots’ Border Alliance) doesn’t want people who are trigger-happy or anything. They want people who are motivated, but who are not angry or out of control. … We do carry weapons, but it’s only for self-defense.

Do you feel like your efforts are working? When I was down there last week, we didn’t see anything.
That disturbs us because we want to feel like we’re doing something, but we can feel like we are — not seeing anything indicates to us that the traffic has really slowed down. Two years ago we would have seen something. … We’re there to act as a human fence. … If we can stop a few, it will give others purpose for thinking of whether they want to come through or not.

What kinds of weapons do you carry while you’re there?
We don’t carry long guns (like rifles or shotguns). We merely carry side arms, and they’re always in the holster. The only reason we would ever bring them out is if we had to protect our own life.

You are a concealed carry permit holder. Why do you believe in concealed carry?
Wherever concealed carry goes into effect, the crime goes down. I obtained mine in 2004, when the permit was approved, and I figured, you know, I want to support these conservatives in the state government that fought so hard for so many years (to pass the law). So I just want to be another number that jumped through all the hoops (to get the permit) to show them their effort was worthwhile.

You’re from Iowa originally. How’d you end up in Vail?
After I got out of serving in Panama, I came to work at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center in Denver. I said boy this is country I love. Some friends said you’ve got to ski Vail.

It was the season of ‘74, last day of the season, and I stopped into Prudential Realty. They showed me a unit under construction in Vail’s core, and I bought it for $34,000 (500 square feet) In 1977, I said I would move here when I retire and that’s not too far away. I retired in 1979. So I met with the same realtor, he showed me several lots.
I said I’m a mountain man and I want to live in the mountains. He brought me up here, way up at the top of East Vail. … I’ve lived here for 30 years and I’m telling you, it is absolutely fantastic.

» Want to see someone profiled in our Getting to Know feature? E-mail editor@vailtrail.com, or call (970) 748-0049.