This is the third article in a weekly series which will share the experiences of Jim Slade of Lehi, who served as a soldier during the Vietnam War. It was not Jim Slade’s choice to serve in that war but when he was asked, he answered the call. A loyal American who has served admirably and who loves his country, Slade tells his children and grandchildren, “Freedom is not free!”

Slade, as a U.S. Army Ranger, had been in Vietnam about four months. He was confused and was not even sure why he was there. What was the purpose in being in Vietnam anyway? Why were American lives being sacrificed for that country?

One day Jim and his unit got a call advising them that there was a Montagnard village that had been threatened by the North Vietnamese Army. The Montagnard tribes were people who lived in the mountains of western Vietnam at the time of the war. They were generally friendly and often cooperated with the Americans.

The North Vietnamese Army had gotten wind of them and knew they had been helping the Americans. They had made plans to kill everyone in the village in retribution. Jim and his men had been assigned to go to the village and try to arm and train them to defend themselves against the NVA soldiers.

Vern Moulton, Special to the Daily Herald

Because the jungle in the area was especially thick, it took Jim and his men longer to get to the village. Sadly, by the time they arrived, it was too late. The NVA had been there and had slaughtered every man, woman and child. Even the livestock had been killed and left to rot on the ground. The 14 year old daughter of the village chief was still alive when Jim’s men arrived, but died a short time later. They could do nothing for her.

Jim was greatly traumatized by this horrible experience. At first he just sat down on a log and cried. Then he wondered what country, what army, what people could be so cruel?

This awful sight erased any confusion in Jim about why he was there. From that experience he became strongly convinced that his purpose in being there was to protect an innocent and defenseless people from a government and an army so cruel and barbaric that they would do that to an entire village and an innocent fourteen year old girl.

Check back next Saturday as Slade shares another of his experiences during his time in Vietnam.