There are many examples to communists' brutality

Communists can and have been very brutal. In July 1961, a heroic U.S. Army officer was executed by his Pathet Lao captors in Laos. His remains have never been returned.

Walt Moon was an experienced captain at 36 years of age. He had enlisted in 1944, and was a combat infantryman with the 5th Army in Italy. He was put in the Army’s special forces and assigned to Laos. A Canadian journalist told the story that both he and Captain Moon were being held in captivity.

On April 12, 1961, Moon led a group of Americans which included three sergeants and a battalion of friendly troops on a patrol. They were ambushed by superior communist forces that quickly overran their positions. They were taken prisoner.

Later, the journalist was released and told the story. The Americans had tried to escape, two of the sergeants were killed, one was captured a week later, and was later released in 1962 under a Geneva Convention program.

Moon’s fate however was more grim. Capt. Moon tried to escape twice during his confinement and on the second attempt, he was wounded in the head. He was reported executed July 22, 1961.

The Pathet Lao denied knowing anything about Moon or the two sergeants who were killed. He was posthumously promoted to major and awarded the Silver Star. His wife, Maxine and their two children, were back home waiting, but never saw Capt. Moon again.

Another example of the communists’ brutality is this. When I was in the 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam, we had some soldiers overrun and killed. When their bodies were later retrieved, they were found with their private parts cut off and stuffed in their mouths. With examples like this, no wonder decent people fight communists.

Roger Gregory is a Vietnam veteran and business owner in Priest River.