Phuket honours fallen soldier

A solemn burial ceremony was held in Phuket last week for Private First Class (PFC) Pakom Suden, 22, who was shot and killed by a sniper while on patrol in Yala’s Bannang Sata District on June 17.

- Eakkapop Thongtub

PFC Pakom, a machine gunner with the 3rd Rifle Platoon, 1st Infantry Company, Special Operations Unit, was fatally shot during a security patrol in Ban Wang Hin, Tambon Bannang Sata. He sustained critical injuries in the ambush and was pro-nounced dead while being transported to Bannang Sata Hospital. The patrol was part of ongoing efforts to maintain public safety in Thailand’s Deep South.

His body was flown by military helicopter to Wat Mongkhon Wararam School (Wat Nai Yang) in Phuket, arriving at 9:50pm the same night, where a dignified reception took place. An honour guard from the 1st Battalion, 15 Infantry Regiment was on hand to receive the fallen soldier.