Veteran’s Stories: Lehi’s Jim Slade describes a dangerous combat mission in Vietnam
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- Jim Slade of Lehi holds a captured Chinese-made rifle he brought home from Vietnam.
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- Jim Slade’s uniform after 30 years of service.
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- Metal whistle carried by Viet Cong to communicate in thick jungles, now owned by Jim Slade.
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- Cloth backpack carried by North Vietnamese soldiers, now owned by Jim Slade.
Vern Moulton, Special to the Daily Herald
Jim Slade of Lehi holds a captured Chinese-made rifle he brought home from Vietnam.
Americans everywhere owe an enormous debt to the men and women who fought for their country. To remember these brave individuals, the Daily Herald is pleased to share some of their stories.
This is the fourth 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!”
The gathering of intelligence through reconnaissance was vital to the US war effort. When Army intelligence became aware of a North Vietnamese Colonel who had been injured in battle, an assignment was given to Jim Slade and his team.
This Colonel was a payroll officer for NVA soldiers fighting in Vietnam. As such, his job was to go where his troops were and issue Vietnamese cash money for the combat work they were engaged in. The secret location of these troops would be invaluable information to American forces.
The NVA Colonel was recovering from his wounds in a small field hospital in Cambodia. Jim and his men were given the exact location. Their mission was to be air lifted into Cambodia at night, locate the Colonel, grab him and bring him back to Vietnam where he could be interrogated.
Vern Moulton, Special to the Daily Herald
Jim Slade's uniform after 30 years of service.
Jim’s Ranger unit was dropped at night about two miles from the field hospital. They were able to locate the hospital and moved silently inside the building without resistance. In a room they saw the Colonel on a bed, hooked up to a number of IV’s and monitors. No one else was around. As they approached the bed, a nurse entered the room and started to scream. One of the Rangers jumped forward and knocked her unconscious with his rifle.
They grabbed the colonel, yanked him free from the bed and the IVs and dragged him out of the door and into the darkness. He was dragged, pulled and carried the two miles to the landing zone where a chopper was waiting.
Jim was later told that the information they were able to obtain from that payroll officer was invaluable in locating enemy troops and in the overall war effort.
Check back next Saturday as Slade shares another of his experiences during his time in Vietnam.
Metal whistle carried by Viet Cong to communicate in thick jungles, now owned by Jim Slade.
Cloth backpack carried by North Vietnamese soldiers, now owned by Jim Slade.
