Escape from Cambodia to Thailand
March 26, 2008 – 6:00 amAs a follow-up to yesterday’s post about Helen’s family’s escape to safety during World War II, I’m writing today about Heng’s family’s escape from Cambodia to Thailand. I couldn’t resist telling this story even though I know I am straying from the intent of this blog - women in World War II
After the takeover of Cambodia by the Khmer Rouge in 1975, almost two million Cambodians lost their lives through murder and famine. Heng’s father lost all seven of his brothers. They were either killed by their enemies or starved to death while working in the rice fields or digging ditches. In 1979 her father decided it was necessary to attempt an escape through the jungle across the border into Thailand.
Heng’s family – her father, her pregnant mother, and her two year old brother – set out with a number of other Cambodians along a path wending its way through the jungle. Since Heng’s mother was nine months pregnant, the family was unable to keep up with the main group and were separated and left to travel on its own. Through the swampy jungle they traveled, occasionally hearing gunfire in the distance.
Upon arriving at the refugee camp in Thailand, and before they could even find their way to the tent where they would be staying, Heng’s mother went into labor. At the field hospital, the nurses and doctors had just changed shifts and the remaining workers were restocking supplies. When a doctor finally arrived, Heng had already been born and was sneezing in her mother’s sarong. Realizing how fortunate the family was to have made it to the camp before Heng’s appearance, she was given the name Heng, which means lucky.
They were at the refugee camp for a few months when they received word that a church in Philadelphia wanted to sponsor them. They were sent to the Philippines where they stayed several more months to learn about life in the United States. In 1982 they arrived in Philadelphia in the middle of winter. Heng’s mother was surprised to find trees with no leaves. She wondered what kind of people planted dead trees. However, they had a very warm reception by the church members who helped them with housing, jobs, clothing and whatever was necessary to begin life in the United States.
Please go to http://www.peggeorge.com/ for World War II information.
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