A card-carrying member of the Communist Party of Spain in 1938–1941, Vida was stationed outside Tarragona, seeing action during the defense of Levante and the Battle of the Ebro. As recalled by his peers, he was still intensely artistic, using his free time to carve up peasant figures and "monster heads". In his memoirs of the conflict, Valter Roman notes that Vida enjoyed "great sympathy from his comrades in arms", his art evoking memories of home. Vida also published political cartoons and front-line drawings in the Battery's newspaper. Outside of battles, he attended political sessions, maintained a small regimental library, and recalled being in the attendance for visits by Dolores Ibárruri and Paul Robeson. Vida also recalled having met cellist Pablo Casals.