Date of Birth:
Tuesday, June 5, 1951
Date of Death:
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Age:
61 years old

Pheap Ngoc Son

Pheap Ngoc Son was born and raised in Kampuchea Krom in Preah Tro Peang Province (Tra-vinh in Vietnam) on 6/5/1951.  Thach Ren was my uncle. Khmers in Khmer Krom were silently oppressed by Vietnam.  Pheap managed to finish high school and after that joined Khmer Serie in 1969.  He was trained by US Mike Force in Long Hai.

Pheap is survived by wife; Sarieng Son, his son; Navan Son, his daughter; Navy Thi Son, and his grandson; Rit Thay Kim.

With his military knowledge, in 1971, Pheap was sent to Cambodia to train Khmer Special Forces in Cambodia.  There were White Scarf units who were asked to help Lon Nol.  The 300,000 well-trained Mike Force men came to face off against communist Vietnam.  In 1973-1974, Pheap was sent to Kampong Chhanang to train new Khmer recruiters and was also assigned to guard Long Borat and Serie Montak; there were 124 men to protect these high two officials.  The Khmer Krom soldiers were highly determined to fight against the communist Vietnam.  When the US Troops pulled out of the war the Khmer Krom soldiers were in limbo…it was like a new car without gas.  As soon as the US pulled out, the frontlines collapsed and communist troops were closed in to capture the Khmer nation capital.

On April 17, 1975 the communist triumphantly marched through the City of Phnom Penh while all Khmer Krom units were in panic, disarray, and fear.  Khmer Krom soldiers dispersed and split up quickly.  Pheap went back home to Tra-vinh.  He was arrested by communist Vietnam and immediately accused of being a Khmer Serie affiliate and was in jail for one year.  Pheap had the support of the Khmer Krom civilians who talked the Vietnamese authority to release him.  After his release he began farming.  He worked with a little English for 20 years.

Pheap joined the United States National Defense Corps (USNDC).  Pheap would talk about reconnecting his old alliance with the US and Khmers that he once had.  He was also happy to join with the International Khmer Assembly (IKA).  The IKA members are working to gain recognition from the US Government to recognize Khmer efforts during the Vietnam War.  The Khmers sacrificed a lot, but it went unnoticed to the world.  As it is today, the history is being made, Khmers will come out of the shadow to enjoy the freedom like anyone else and to participate in Democracy.  Khmers now have a chance to voice their concerns and be able to speak for their brothers and sisters back home. Pheap was very grateful for the opportunity to have Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.