I went to the Killing Fields TDY in the late 70s. Anyone else on my freq?

2019-11-14T10:01:13-05:00

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Nov 14 at 2019 10:14 AM

2019-11-14T10:14:55-05:00

Congrats on your visit? I visited Auschwitz. We should make shirts.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Nov 14 at 2019 11:35 AM

2019-11-14T11:35:13-05:00

Was out there in the off and on '96-'98 timeframe. The Choeung Ek memorial is sobering as is Toul Sleng Prison. What many don't know is Toul Sleng was a middle school converted into actually a processing plant and torture chambers, not really a prison. People were not there long. They took pictures and made other detailed records and then most were quickly dispatched. Torture was reserved for those thought to have information. If you wore glasses, you could likely read, hence you were tortured for information. The preferred method was a sharp iron stake up behind the skull because it was cheaper than bullets. The most sobering are the pictures of the day with blood stains which have never been cleaned up. Look down, look left, and you see the same thing. I was constructing Khmer Rouge defector camps in the Oral Mountains when Pol Pot decided to give up. He wasn't in good shape and died before he was taken into custody. How he died is subject to differences in opinion. Cambodia was a real rat's nest when I was there. I have absolutely no desire to go back because I'd have so much disappointment in how little things have improved over the years. I was leading some negotiations with the Asian Development Bank on behalf of USAID. Didn't get very far and I clearly understand why more every year.