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Page 2 of 3
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.
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