In the beginning when Bang’s family was in that town, no one forced them to farm because they did not know how to farm. So they started out following other people in chopping wood. Slowly, the work became harder where it was required to carry mud, dig paths for pipes, and farm. Bang’s family lived there until 1979, which is when the Khmer Rouge was over-thrown by the Vietnamese. The whole family went back to Phnom Penh with the Vietnamese protecting them all the way. After staying in Phnom Penh for five months, Bang’s family went to Vietnam.

Bang had many events that he still remembers deeply. Here is one.

During the four years in that town. Bang was once sick and went into the hospital. There was not enough food for everyone, so a boy a bit younger than Bang asked if he would come with him to ask the vice-director for more food. Bang said sure, as he was still hungry himself, and so they went. But the vice-director told them that there was no rice or food left. Bang and that boy had no choice but to leave. When Bang and that boy went to the vice-director, every patient saw them with plates and spoons. They were afraid to be laughed at by those patients since they did not get any food, so the boy suggested that they wait until everyone is asleep then go back to their beds. The vice-director had ordered a ten-year-old girl to listen to what they were talking about. The girl told the vice-director, but said that that Bang and the boy had said that they will wait until all the doctors are asleep and will kill them all.

The vice-director immediately called the Khmer Rouge soldiers and arrested Bang and that boy. They were tied up by six soldiers and asked separately what the two of them were talking about. The soldiers did not believe Bang and the boy that they were only talking about the patients being asleep. The soldiers decided to hang the two of them. The boy was so scared that he could not walk, so he was beaten. Bang saw that and told himself that he would not want to get beaten before he dies, so he walked fast. The soldiers said that he was walking too fast and looked like he wanted to run away, so Bang had to walk slowly.

They finally arrived at a Khmer Rouge station. The leader of those soldiers told them to not beat or kill Bang and the boy yet. When the leader questioned the girl, he found out that it was just a mistake, so Bang and the boy were released.

After coming to the U.S., Bang has never been back to Cambodia, and he does not plan to go back right now. If there is a chance later, he might go back and visit. <<Back

Personal Interview: Mr. Huynh, Date: July 29, 2003

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