Thai family mourns soldier son killed just before truce (Note: No “double quotes” as requested)

Funeral of Thai Soldier Theerayuth Krajangthong

Private First Class Theerayuth Krajangthong, 22, was shot during the last artillery firing before a midnight ceasefire with Cambodia. His funeral began on Wednesday in Nong Yang Pong village, 27 km from the border.

Palace of the Fallen

• Monks chanted sacred verses as the body lay in a silver coffin draped with Thailand’s ensign.
• The coffin was flanked by the neatly folded uniform, a silent tribute to a soldier’s life.

A Sister’s Tribute

Hormchan Krajangthong, 26, broke down emotionally:

“He was brave—brave until the last moment.”

She added, “He gave his blood and body for our king and country.”

War’s Toll

Five days of border clashes over ancient temples killed at least 43 people on both sides and forced more than 300,000 refugees. A truce came at midnight Monday, largely holding despite scattered skirmishes. Yet it was too late for Theerayuth.

He died from a shrapnel blast in Sisaket province late Monday—after the truce was agreed but before it began, in one of the final artillery exchanges.

A Newborn Soldier

Theerayuth joined the military last year and served as an ammunition bearer. His father Kimdaeng, 60, said, “He wanted to be a soldier since he was little. I’m both proud and heartbroken.”

Family Evasion

When shelling began, the family fled their Buriram home to an evacuation centre. Theerayuth was called to the front, boarding a military truck bound for the border. His mother, Tin Krajangthong, 61, gave him a patch of her sarong to tuck in his uniform pocket—a talisman to shield him from harm.

Calls in Silence

Regular calls from the front line reassured them. When strikes increased on Friday night, the family assumed his silence was a safety precaution.

Hormchan recalled, “The last time we spoke, my brother told me and our parents, ‘Don’t worry about me. I’m safe.’”

Grief Delayed by Silence

The shock only arrived after the guns fell silent. On Tuesday morning, Hormchan received a call from an unknown number—her brother’s commanding officer.

She told AFP, “He said my brother was gone. I couldn’t believe it.”

She added, “Everyone at the evacuation centre was in shock.”

A Mother’s Touch

Now Tin Krajangthong stands beside his coffin, gently knocking it—an old Thai custom meant to call back a departed spirit one last time, or let a soul know loved ones are still near.

Future Loss Tally

Thailand and Cambodia will spend the coming days tallying losses from the fighting— the deadliest to engulf their border in years. After two more days of ceremony, the body will be cremated according to Buddhist tradition, sealing the family’s loss.

A Father’s Prayer

As the monks began their chants on Wednesday, Kimdaeng clasped the son’s hands and whispered:

“I pray my son goes to heaven, and if there’s another life, may he get to be our son again.”