This is a true story of one person’s struggle to survive those time—life in the “prison without walls,” a daring escape, guerrilla fighting to free his people and the love of a family he put above all else. This story shines with powerful spirit as Peter Sareth Pen captures—as no one else can—the reality of life in the Killing Fields.“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Peter Pen’s life story reminds us that, although all men may indeed be created equal, the cost associated with pursuing happiness is not equal. In many places around the world, this unalienable right remains just a dream. His devotion to helping abused and neglected kids demonstrates that even though happiness is sometimes not so self-evident, there is still hope.
About the author:
Peter Pen was born in Cambodia in 1952, just as the French colony wrestled it sovereignty out from under France’s control. A monsoon ravaged the village the night his mother gave birth to him in a tiny dirtfloor hut. She felt like a powerful spirit was coming.
The son of poor rice farmers, he was the only child out of nine to go to school. People saw a promise in him. They called him the lucky child: “Khmeng Mean Samnang.”
He left home at eleven to continue school so he could become a teacher. But after finishing high school, he traded his books for an M-16 to fight in the bloody civil war against the Communist Vietcong and Khmer Rouge. Cambodia fell to the Khmer Rouge in 1975. Peter Pen became one of millions of Cambodians sent to live or die in the Killing Fields.
For additional information about the book:
- Title: "Escape to America", a true story of Peter Sareth Pen
- Author: Peter Sareth Pen
- Published by Publish America
- Available at: www.publishamerica.net
19 comments:
I know this guy well. He sued his own sister for getting federal aid (welfare). He is not a person that would help cambodian communities. He is not a role model for young generation.
Random book from a refugee
1:43 AM
You can say anything you want, but you do not know him well enough. I have been living in the same town with this man. I know him well. If you do not know inside his family, you should shut your mouth.
Unfortunately, there are still Khmer Rouge sympathizers. This guy is just giving us another story to add to the tragic events of that era. No one can deny the pain and suffering the Cambodians had felt.
smart of him to write a book about his life and what he experienced personally in cambodia during that dark era. god bless him.
1:43 AM,
You're still having Khmer kleptocratic mentality that's why Cambodia is the most corrupted country in the world.
As a County Worker, he had no choice but to report to the government when someone get public aids illegally.
Why try to smear his name? Some wellfare people work for cash and take wellfare the same time. It is totally a corruption.
mreas prov
in america, there is a law that protect people's confidentiality. people are not supposed to go around and talk about someone's confidentiality in public, etc. i think cambodia ought to have the same law so people's personal information cannot be talked publicly. it's not like the law condone it, it just to prevent people from talking publicly about it, that's all! if you have had any professional job in the USA, you probably were educated about confidentiality rules, etc... i think it has more to do with codne of conduct or ethical issue, especially in professional jobs. so, don't be talking about it here or there or anywhere, really! it's a way to discourage people from being personal, etc against someone as in bias, prejudice, discrimination, etc... cambodia should look into making a law similar like this in cambodia. this way, people are educated and can't use their bias, hate, prejudice, and so on against someone else. it protects everybody from getting hurt!
yes, because it's a privilege to have access to personal information of others, so, people shouldn't be abusing that right!
anyway, congrats mr. peter pen for finishing a book; it's an extraordinary personal achievement. you should be proud of yourself. i think writing a book is the level of a master's degree in college.
Congratulations bong Sareth!
Your friend in Fresno,
also in america, there is no such thing as too old to attend college, etc... america's colleges and universities do not discriminate against age in adult. so, if one has academic incline, go for it at school.
congratulations to this Author Peter Sareth Pen for your achievement in writing about your life experiences and share it with the world. Everyone has different life experiences but unfortunately there are those who are unable to express it. I am so glad that you have learnt and earn your degree to be able to express it. Aust
If he sued his sister from getting gederal aid illegally he must be a read good man for the society. He is against the nepotism, is the best citizen that the world needs.
His sister has to get out and find a job or learn some skill to work instead of sucking other hard working peopel money. TWO THUMS UP for him.
He would be a better man if he denounced his parents for stealing food, got killed, in Pol Pot era ?
Congratulation Mr. Pen!
I have known you for since the 1080's. You are a great man and you are a survivor. You have helped the community for years. You are famous, you are brave and you are well educated. I have seen you in the newspaper at least 100 times, and I have seen you in the movie, Landmines of the Heart, on KQED for several times. You must have done well and you have sacrified for your people. You are a family person. Do not care about those who think that you sued your sister for committing welfare fraud. The truth is out, people know it, the government knows it. You did not touch any one, you helped people including your sister. You were in trouble because other people but you defended yourself well. You are a great man and you are the best Cambodian that I have known since I've been here in the US.
Congratulation again Mr. Pen. Hope you do well with selling your book. I hope one day I will get a chance to see you and I can ask for your help to publish my book too.
Best of Luck, Mr. Pen
i have nothing bad to say about this man, he showed us that anyone can do it when they are focus and work hard and never give up in life endeavor and so forth. good luck and god bless him.
peter reminds me of a hmong refugee turned phd and professor at california state university at stanislaus. the former hmong refugee once asked how he did it. his answer was simple enough: he said that everyday, he tells himself to learn a new word and multiply that in a life time. imagine how many words he learned during his life time. i think that was good personal advice.
Dear KI staff and KI readers!
I want to thank you for all your support, encouragement and criticism. I hope to be a better man and I will continue to learn from all of you. I want to let you know that I do not have a heart to put anyone in trouble, including my sister. Those who believe in rumors talking negatively about me, you need to see me and get to know me. For the last 33 years, I have put my life in the front line everywhere I go, just to save my family and the community. Yes, I have been active and known as a dedicated community leader and democracy activist. Yes, I have done many good things in my life to help others. Yes, I have been known as a politician and Yes, I have been known a an honest person to serve the communities in both worlds, Cambodia and America. I do not have time to sue my sister for any reasons. I do not have time to argue with anyone in the community, but I have heard lots of negative rumors about me and my family. It does not hurt me as much as it hurts those who seek trouble. Please learn to get along. Please learn to unite with our khmer people. I believe I have enough knowledge to help anyone who needs them, from education, job, public relations skills, social work, or just to find ways to make peace in our community. I have been threatened a couple of times in the past because of my activities, but I still survive because I know the distinction between good and bad.
Those who do not know me well or who only hear the rumors about me, please stop accusing me if you do not know the fact. Please stop pointing finger at others, because it could cause you problems. Mind your ownself is a safe way to survive in this current society. If you need help, look for help. If you need education, attend school. If you need money, find a job or find a good job. Do not commit fraud. If someone is committing crime, sooner or later, he/she will get punished. If someone who is committing fraud, he/she will get caught and pay the price. Someone who does not work at the Welfare Department, he/she may not know how many investigators are working every day to get the fraudulent welfare receipients. Other regular workers do not have time to report about others. No one wants to talk to the investigator about someone else. It does not look good as a person, unless he/she him or herself is an investigator. We all are busy working to make a living, we do not have time to initiate problems.
Thank again for your friendship.
Good luck to all,
Peter Sareth Pen
"Escape to America"
I would like to address how ignorant you are to state something that is a family member. First off if his brother and sister weren't committing welfare fraud then they would have this issue. Right? The brother in law was the one who published is "store" in the paper and because the sister has the same last name they investigated. My father worked his ass off to get where he is at. For you to accuse him you are ignorant. Maybe that word is to big for you to comprehend. Next time get the facts right! This is his proud daughter speaking on behalf of him!
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