Sophal Chhin

A biography written by his daughters about Sophal Chhin. Sophal Chhin, loving husband and proud father of 5. He always preferred to be called by his last name Chhin. He spent 30 years of his life In Cambodia. He was born in the countryside of Battambang and had 4 siblings. Him and his family arrived in the US soils on August 22, 1983. Sponsored by Church World Services and Washington Association of Churches Resettlement and Job Program, resettling the family into Kirkland, Washington where they would permanently reside for the first 7 years of their new life in America.

During the Khmer Rouge, Sophal rescued his family and saved countless lives. He not only served as an army officer fighting the opposing side, but he also served as an army medic. During the years of war, he experienced several near-death moments, surviving from land mines, open artillery fires, and multiple bullet wounds. To this day, he still has bullet fragments lodged in his body that cannot be surgically removed. It would be his youngest son, Bophinith who would inherit Chhin’s brave heart and courage, enlisting in the US army at 27. The loyalty to his nation and his deep connection to his family passed down from father to son. They say the fruit is never far away from the tree and this quote could not be any truer. Chhin is not only a hero to his family, fighting for their freedom but was a hero to the countless lives that he helped bring to safety, he truly was an unsung hero and a war veteran.

Despite the trauma and horrors of war, after seeking refuge in the Unites States, Sophal had a passion for the arts. He had amazing skillset in carpentry and created beautiful lifelike carvings of the Apsaras, heavenly dancing deities, the ancient ruins of the Kingdom of Cambodian, Angkor Wat and painted beautiful acrylic art pieces of the Cambodian countryside. His talents did not just stop there, he had a love for traditional Cambodian music. He loved to play, perform, and compose music, and even erected an ensemble of his own traditional musical instruments, some of his works included: Takei, Tro Ou, but you would never find him dancing, with the exception of his 1st daughters wedding. All his artistic traits were passed down to his eldest son, Bophann, eldest daughter Bophear and youngest daughter, Emolly. They all possess Chhin’s ingenuity, creativity and artistic talents, whether it’s wood working, painting, singing or playing a musical instrument.

While he was a war hero, a self-taught artist, Chhin had a pure heart of gold. He was a kind, gentle soul, who was compassionate selfless, and would also put others above him. He was known to pick up hitch hikers without any fear, house family members until they were back up on their feet and offer a helping hand or make small talk with any random stranger. His generosity and caring nature towards human kindness was none like any other, the only other person that could match his heart of gold is his middle daughter, Bophiny who in many ways is a mirror image of his kind spirit. There is a saying: to feed the soul, go through the stomach.

Another talent that Chhin encompassed was his impeccable culinary skills, specializing in Cambodian and Thai cuisines. Chhin was a jack of all trades, but cooking was his expertise. With no standard American education, he found a way to support his family, and made a living doing what he loved most, cooking. While growing up poor, living in public housing, there was never a day that the family went hungry. His wife, Samoun who is equally a great cook, has adopted some of his cooking style over the years and is humbled that she can continue carry on his culinary legacy.

Chhin, an unsung war hero, an artist with many talents, and a sentimental man with an un-withering soul. He is charismatic in nature, willful and a prideful man, yet soft spoken, gentle, and a man of little words but the biggest heart. It is in his death that we pay tribute to this gentleman that we knew of as our father and loving husband. He was a selfless man, even in this death bed, he held onto his pride and did not want to inconvenience anyone. In his remembrance, we take this moment to embark on all his life's journey and accomplishments and to recognize that while we may have lost the most beautiful human being who lived on this earth but as a reminder to still have faith in humanity, because it is angels like our father, who made this world a better place.