Introduction

"Into the Shadows, I Ran" begins with the Khmer Rouge's forced evacuation of Cambodia's cities immediately after the fall of Phnom Penh and Saigon in April of 1975. The story traces Tha Chhay's attempted escapes from the forced labor camps when he was a boy.

Early Life and Escapes

After the Khmer Rouge fell from power, he traveled extensively around Cambodia as a boy merchant. After buying and selling goods in different markets across Cambodia, he saved enough gold to hire a guide to take him across the land-mine fields into a refugee camp in Thailand. He persevered in the refugee camp for six long years.

Refugee Camp and Inspiration

In the camp's small library, he saw a picture of Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin place the American flag on the moon. He knew that Cambodia wouldn’t get their flag up there in a million years, and decided America was the best country to take him away from the political turmoil of his homeland.

Journey to America

In the camp of 28,000 refugees, he was chosen to be sponsored to live in America. He was eventually sent to be settled in Seattle, Washington, where he still lives today.

His Story and Message

His quest to survive and make a living forced Tha Chhay to harness his inner talents and skills. This book is a window into a rich culture steeped in the history of the Far East, at a time of great upheaval and personal tragedies. Tha Chhay's testament to the horrors of the Cambodian genocide offers perspective into current political turmoil around the world. He hopes countries never experience this type of genocide again.