Master Sergeant Slaughter was a member of the 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in South Korea on 13 August 1950 and returned to duty on 28 October 1950. He was seriously injured in North Korea on 1 November 1950 and returned to duty on 10 November 1950. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in North Korea on 12 April 1951.

Slaughter was awarded the Purple Heart with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.