Ex-general made new U.S. lifeOBITUARY: Former Cambodian chief of staff Chhong Ea went to trade school, put six kids through college.
03/21/2008
By Greg Mellen, Staff Writer
Long Beach Press Telegram (California, USA)
Chhong Ea went from being a brigadier general and the chief of staff for the Khmer Air Force during the Cambodian civil war to running a grocery store and later attending trade school in the United States to be an electrical technician. But the Cambodian emigrant never complained about his plight.
Ea died March 12 several months after suffering a stroke. He was 78.
Despite his high ranking in the deposed Khmer Republic, Ea lived a quiet and modest life in the United States.
"When we left we didn't have anything but our clothes," said Saraboth Ea, the youngest son of Chhong Ea. "Even his wedding pictures were left behind."
According to Saraboth Ea and his mother, Theng Van, after evacuating his family to safety, Chhong Ea stayed in Cambodia until the last possible moment on April 17, 1975, the day Cambodia fell, before leaving the country.
Although Chhong Ea had been encouraged to flee sooner, according to Saraboth Ea, "my dad told my mom the administration would be in chaos. There would be no one left to help the people."
Once he left Cambodia, however, the family said Chhong Ea never looked back.
"In my experience of my dad, it seemed like he lived a normal life," Saraboth Ea said.
After running the family grocery store, Chhong Ea enrolled in trade school and landed a job with NCR Corp., with which he worked for 20 years until his retirement.
"It was amazing, he raised six kids and put us through college," Saraboth Ea said.
After his fighting days, Chhong Ea neither talked about the war nor did he seem to harbor bitterness.
He also avoided postwar politics and even turned down an invitation to return to Cambodia when the government was being rebuilt.
Chhong Ea began his career as an aviator in 1954 and after being trained by France rose to the rank of captain by 1964.
With the formation of the Khmer Republic in 1970, following the removal of Prince Norodom Sihanouk, Chhong Ea rose quickly to the rank of brigadier general and would later be recommended for the Distinguished Flying Cross by U.S. military peers. The medal can be awarded to members of friendly foreign countries during times of war.
Saraboth Ea said his father was appreciated by those who served under him because of his honesty and incorruptibility.
"He was never involved in corruption," Saraboth Ea said. "They all saw that and that's what they respected about him."
Chhong Ea is survived by his wife; six children, Ken, Peter, Saraboth, Sadeth, Sarina and Sariny; and 10 grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held today at 3 p.m. at the Memorial Chapel at Rose Hills Memorial Park, 3888 S. Workman Mill Road, Whittier.
greg.mellen@presstelegram.com, 562-499-1291
Ea died March 12 several months after suffering a stroke. He was 78.
Despite his high ranking in the deposed Khmer Republic, Ea lived a quiet and modest life in the United States.
"When we left we didn't have anything but our clothes," said Saraboth Ea, the youngest son of Chhong Ea. "Even his wedding pictures were left behind."
According to Saraboth Ea and his mother, Theng Van, after evacuating his family to safety, Chhong Ea stayed in Cambodia until the last possible moment on April 17, 1975, the day Cambodia fell, before leaving the country.
Although Chhong Ea had been encouraged to flee sooner, according to Saraboth Ea, "my dad told my mom the administration would be in chaos. There would be no one left to help the people."
Once he left Cambodia, however, the family said Chhong Ea never looked back.
"In my experience of my dad, it seemed like he lived a normal life," Saraboth Ea said.
After running the family grocery store, Chhong Ea enrolled in trade school and landed a job with NCR Corp., with which he worked for 20 years until his retirement.
"It was amazing, he raised six kids and put us through college," Saraboth Ea said.
After his fighting days, Chhong Ea neither talked about the war nor did he seem to harbor bitterness.
He also avoided postwar politics and even turned down an invitation to return to Cambodia when the government was being rebuilt.
Chhong Ea began his career as an aviator in 1954 and after being trained by France rose to the rank of captain by 1964.
With the formation of the Khmer Republic in 1970, following the removal of Prince Norodom Sihanouk, Chhong Ea rose quickly to the rank of brigadier general and would later be recommended for the Distinguished Flying Cross by U.S. military peers. The medal can be awarded to members of friendly foreign countries during times of war.
Saraboth Ea said his father was appreciated by those who served under him because of his honesty and incorruptibility.
"He was never involved in corruption," Saraboth Ea said. "They all saw that and that's what they respected about him."
Chhong Ea is survived by his wife; six children, Ken, Peter, Saraboth, Sadeth, Sarina and Sariny; and 10 grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held today at 3 p.m. at the Memorial Chapel at Rose Hills Memorial Park, 3888 S. Workman Mill Road, Whittier.
greg.mellen@presstelegram.com, 562-499-1291
15 comments:
I am so sorry to hear the lost of a great man like him. May I give my condolence to all family member and I wish his spirit will rest in peace in heaven. Areak Prey
I want to pay my last respect to one of my Khmer Heros. His example and bio indicate his honesty service to the country. Thank You Sir!
UC student
No thanks for me, I ain't into Hollywood shit.
My sincere condolences to the family of this respected man andm may his soul rest in peace!
Mchule Pitch
We have had voluminous men and women in uniform who sacrificed their lives for the improvement and betterment of the life of Cambodia during tumultuous times without giving them proper credit ... now, it is my belief that these people deserve our credit and respect. I call them HEROES.
GO (Gorillas out)!
True, but this guy in uniform is responsible for putting us all in the poor house, mate (6:39).
The fed will look into the KI for condoning the hackers use the KI system to get into other people's PCs. Mr. Tan perhaps would be interested in looking into this unethical behavior, or issue a subpoena for the KI. At the present time, we are trying to determine where the source or orgin of the hackers are coming from. If the source or orgin is from KI, they looking at the posiblity of subpoena.
To the family of Gen Ea Chhong
Please accepted my condolence and my respect to the great heros of my commander in Chief Gen Ea Chhong.
Most officers who survived the war in 1975 or were able to escape to another country, lost their belief in fighting or having anything to do with the government and politic.Perhaps, this little phrase was true " a soldier is just a victim of a fool". It was taking from an unkown source of a day in the life of one soldier who lost everything, except himself and no one knows or believes it better than Lok Chhong. We totlaly agree that it's better for him to do something else, enjoying different things rather then wondering around in this world of confusing leadership. May his soul rest in peace!
Ordinary Khmers
Burn in hell, you greedy Motherfucker!
This motherfucker 6:40 knew nothing about the other Koun Khmer sacrification for their ouwn country except his motherfucker ah Kwak Hun Sen is the hero shit.Youn put him on the top of Veit tanks and drive through to PP and Hun Sen get off the tanks and pound his chest and declare he is a hero.
Hero shit motherfucker 6:40 you burn in hell.
Well, you stupid sacrification is what destroying every single Khmer life and causing millions of death and poverty that is still linger on til this very day. If you expect a gold medal from Khmer people for that, I say, "Fuck you, Asshole".
He is smart and great. he deserves to receive respect from his former soldiers. Oum Sotin
Again, the former officer was never a hero to anyone or the country; of course, to those who believe that he was a hero. That was it, and nothing more!
I believe one detail that this post failed to mention is that he did not only evacuate his family to safety, but he evacuated a large number of families. Saving the lives of the people were placed as a high priority, and no one was allowed to take any belongings. This enabled them to fill all of the carrier planes to the brim with as many lives as possible.
Yes, it is true that if you call him a hero or not depends on your opinion, but I believe that at the minimum, he deserves respect for his honest service to his country and trying to prioritize the lives of the people.
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