Sa kaeo: The mother of Private Thanarat Chanprathat wept and collapsed to her knees after learning of her son’s death, expressing pride in his sacrifice for the nation. Private Thanarat, a soldier from the 1st Army Area attached to the 11th Infantry Division, was killed by Cambodian gunfire during clashes on the Thai-Cambodian border in Sa Kaeo Province, becoming the seventh Thai army fatality in the ongoing conflict.

According to Thai News Agency, Private Thanarat’s mother, who resides in South Korea, was devastated upon hearing the news. She recalled their last phone conversation in which he reassured her, saying, “Don’t worry, Mom. If it’s not my time to die, everything will be alright.” Despite her heartbreak, she expressed pride in her son’s dedication to protecting the nation.

At the family home in Fao Rai Subdistrict, Nong Khai Province, Private Thanarat’s grandparents were found speaking with his mother over the phone. She recounted that her 22-year-old son, known affectionately as “Pluem,” had been drafted into the military in 2024 and had only completed one year of training. He had served in combat along the Thai-Cambodian border in Sisaket province before his deployment to Sa Kaeo Province.

Preparations are underway at Wat Kaew Sawat, also known as Wat Ban Wang Chomphu, where villagers are setting up tents and arranging chairs for the ceremony to receive Private Thanarat’s body, perform Buddhist funeral rites, and carry out the cremation.

In a show of solidarity, teachers and students at Kraburi Kindergarten School in Nakhon Ratchasima Province participated in an activity titled “Uniting Hearts, Sending Support, and Mourning the Brave Soldiers.” They offered eulogies, observed a moment of silence, and lit candles to honor the seven soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the nation. Some students also created drawings to honor the soldiers and express their wishes for the safe return of all personnel currently serving along the border.