Slape, James Allen
Male
Verified U.S. Army Sergeant James Allen Slape, 23, of Morehead City, North Carolina, was killed by an improvised explosive device in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, on October 4, 2018.
Their Story
James Allen Slape was a 23-year-old sergeant from Morehead City, North Carolina. He served with the North Carolina Army National Guard's 430th Ordnance Company, 60th Troop Command, based in Washington, North Carolina. He deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel.
On October 4, 2018, Slape was conducting route clearance operations in the Garmsir District of Helmand Province. His vehicle struck an improvised explosive device. He was killed in the blast. Another U.S. soldier and a U.S. Marine were reportedly wounded in the same incident.
Operation Freedom's Sentinel was the U.S. military mission in Afghanistan that succeeded Operation Enduring Freedom in January 2015. Its stated objectives included counterterrorism operations and training Afghan security forces. The conflict in Afghanistan, which began in 2001, continued through Slape's deployment in 2018.
Following his death, Slape's body was returned to North Carolina. A funeral service was held at West Carteret High School, his alma mater, on October 15, 2018. He was posthumously promoted from specialist to sergeant.
Sergeant Slape was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart. He is memorialized on a monument at the National Guard armory in Washington, North Carolina, and his name is inscribed on the Carteret County Veterans Memorial.
Explore Further
Sgt. James Slape was killed during Operation Freedom's Sentinel (ongoing since 2015). See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Golden, Jonathan Joseph, Sanchez, Maria Victoria, Dawson, John Michael, Ruiz, Pablo Allende Iii.
