Colonel Khamsy Soukhaseum

He had 4 siblings, 2 brothers and 2 sisters. When he finished primary school in 1950, he joined the French Army as a military officer in the French Army, affiliated with the Signal Royal Thai Army. In 1954, he married Miss Champathong Luangkhot and had 5 children, 2 boys and 3 girls, all currently living in the USA.

Further education during his professional life: He studied abroad in Paris, France twice, in 1957 and 1960 as a signal operator and studied in the USA in 1967 and 1973 to become the Communications Officer and Commander of the Communications Battalion, head of the Central Communications Department of the Supreme General Staff Command 1.

From 1964 to 1972, he was the Commander of the Communications Battalion of Military Region 5, 6629, Vientiane, Lao (Capital). From 1973 to 1975, he was also the commander of several mobile communications battalions, including the Ly Phi Mobile Department, the 4th Military Region of Pakse, the Mobile Department and the Lunar Department in the Plateau, Military Region 2, Khuang Province. He then became the acting director of the 12th Military School of Land Management, Section 3, in District Savannakhet Province of Lao.

At the end of 1975, he was taken by the Lao Red Army (communist army) and sent to a (reeducation camp) detention center known as the Sanya Center in Viengxay District, Huaphanh Province, Northeastern Province of Lao. He was released in 1981 from the reeducation camp and returned to his family. He stayed with his family for about 2 months and seeing that there was no safety, he decided to escape with his family across the Mekong River to a refugee camp in Nong Khieu in Thailand in 1981. He and his family were then moved to a refugee camp in Nakornpanom, Thailand in 1983. In the same year they went to a temporary refugee camp in the Philippines, where they stayed for 6 months.

He and his family finally came to the U.S. also in 1983 and landed in Twin Falls, Idaho. Only 3 months later would move to Oregon because it was too cold! He eventually took his family to Arizona because Oregon had too much rain! Ever since 1983 until now they’ve stayed in Arizona. Only his youngest daughter has since moved to Portland, OR.

During his time in Arizona, he participated in Lao tradition culture, society, sharing food, and organizing buddhist temples around Arizona with Lao brothers and sisters. In addition, he joined the Arizona Lao Association as a consultant. He provided guidance and helped organize the Lao community to come together to stand together in unity, love, and mutual help in the Lao society abroad.

Another special day was when he joined the Lao-American Veterans Association, which included His Excellency Uthong Souvannavong, General Phoumi Norsavanh, Panya Otong, General Vangpao, General Thonglit Chokbangboun and others, including government officials, police officers, and the people's army.

In February 2025, Father Khamsy Soukhaseum became ill and on the morning of February 21, 2025 he passed quietly surrounded by his loving family. He was 94 years, 1 month, and 21 days old.

He’s survived by 3 daughters, 2 sons, 8 grandsons and 3 granddaughters.

A funeral service for Khamsy will be held Saturday, March 8, 2025 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Green Acres Mortuary & Cemetery, 401 North Hayden Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85257.