by Dave Eubank
Eliya (Elijah) is the Chief Medic for the Free Burma Rangers. His animal name is "Toew Plu" or "Mad Dog". He is fast, highly skilled and brave.
Eliya is a 37 year-old Karen Christian, and is married to 'Cat', a beautiful and dynamic nurse. They have four children. Eliya is a gifted medic, trainer, champion kick boxer, artist, singer, cook, hunter and all-round athlete. He served as a medic in the Karen Army (KNLA) and is admired for his bravery under fire, his mature decision making, his ability to handle complex situations and get along with everyone, and for his lifesaving ability. He is almost always smiling and his distinctive, booming laugh can be heard whenever he is present. He is unflappable under pressure, never gives up, prays with faith, shares all he has and is supremely talented. The following are a few short stories that give some insight into his character.
The First Ranger
Over 10,000 people were fleeing into Thailand during the 1997 Burma Army offensive. The border road we were on was clogged with families carrying all they had.
I pulled my truck over to the side of the road and as I stepped out, a man emerged from the jungle. He was in full camouflage fatigues, with a hand grenade on his harness and a M16 in his hand. He had a warm and open smile and a bright red earring in one ear. He looked like a pirate. "Hello," he said in English. "My name is Eliya and I am a medic, can I help you?" I thought, 'Man you are an angel - a pirate angel!' "Yes," I said. "I want to help the people who are sick and are behind."
Eliya looked at the four backpacks of medical supplies I had in my truck and, stopping some of the fleeing people, said to three men in one group, "You can run away tomorrow, but now is the time to help your people. Come and help us please." He gave three medical loads to these men. I picked up the fourth and we went through the fleeing refugees back to the border to help those we could. Mostly he treated patients while I assisted him and prayed.
Shattered Stump
After one week we were out of medicine and, when we arrived back at the truck, were presented with a man who had stepped on a landmine. His shattered stump was already severely infected and he needed to get immediate care at a hospital. We loaded him into my truck and Eliya tied his IV bags to the roof of the truck so that the infusion could continue as we transported him out. The sun was just setting as we secured the victim in the truck. Eliya turned to me and said, "My wife and son are somewhere back there in Burma. Now I have to go find them. Maybe next week I will be dead, ha ha." His teeth flashed as he laughed and shook my hand. I prayed with him and then he was gone into the night.
NB: Eliya did find his family and now he and his wife, Cat, have four children. Eliya was the first Free Burma Ranger (FBR) and helps train and lead the 100 part-time and 43 full-time teams that, with the help of Partners Relief & Development, bring hope to people in Burma. They hike into areas of conflict to provide material, spiritual and general aid to the victims of abuse and exploitation of the Burma Army.
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