Alton was born in Canada of American parents and after high school worked with horses, riding in rodeos. He joined the Canadian army in 1941 and transferred to the USAAF in 1942 where - after training - he was assigned to 323rd Sqdn 91st BG at Bassingbourn. He was shot down on a mission to Frankfurt 4th October 1943 and spent the rest of the war at Stalag XVIIB until the forced march west ahead of the advancing Russians. After his discharge he returned to Canada, raised horses and ran a construction company.