Loss of a Ranger: Saw Lawrence

2 May 2025

Karen State, Burma

Dear friends,

On 23 April 2025, Saw Lawrence, an FBR medic, was killed as he provided medical care to the wounded in Karen State, Burma. The Burma military fired heavy artillery, which nearly severed his legs as well as caused fatal wounds to his torso. We are in shock and saddened by his loss. Lawrence was loved by everyone. He leaves behind his wife, Naw Dah Bleh, also an FBR medic, and a son.

Lawrence was 29 years old, born on 9 May 1996 in Mu Traw District, northern Karen State. His father passed away when he was three months old, so he and his mother and brother moved to Taungoo town. When he was two years old, his mother had a stroke, handicapping her for the rest of her life. He grew up and went to school in Taungoo. After school, he joined the local government for Hsaw Hti Township, Kler Lwee Htu District, and attended basic military training and community health workers training. In 2018, he joined FBR training because he wanted to work in humanitarian relief. After one year as a Ranger, he decided he wanted to become a medic and attended the Jungle School of Medicine-Kawthoolei (JSMK) in 2019 and graduated in early 2020.

He is married to a beautiful lady named Naw Dah Bleh. They met at JSMK as classmates and they attended both FBR and JSMK training. After their graduation and marriage, they went back to western Karen State where they worked in Hsaw Hti Township as both FBR and Karen Department of Health and Welfare (KDHW) medics. They have a beautiful son.

In the past four years, the attacks of the Burma military have intensified greatly and this husband-and-wife team have treated hundreds of wounded. Lawrence was usually at the front line, risking his life to help others. He was loved by everyone and I always appreciated his cool, quiet competence. The last mission we did together was earlier this year where he was a very effective worker and medic. Our children, Sahale, Suuzanne, and Peter, admired him very much and always felt safer when he was on a mission with them.

Saw Toh, an FBR senior medic and director of JSMK, had this to say about Lawrence:

“Saw Lawrence is mostly quiet and a hard worker. He speaks well, S’Gaw Karen, Burmese, and some English. He has his own personal health problem like pain in his lower leg all the time and worse in cold weather. Even though he has personal health problems, he never complained when someone asked him to do heavy work or non-heavy work.

He learned well in JSMK and was a good medic. He was brave and very active in the front line [of his district] most of the time as a medic. He is a good and great FBR and KDHW medic and a big help. He was a great instructor. He did not instruct like a boss but as a servant leader.

He was also gentle, humble, and very good with the children. Many of the children in TUW camp love him. When he has money, he called the children and gave them snacks, played with them and carried them on his neck. We love him so much and we are very very sorry for losing him as he is a great FBR and a medic. May his soul rest in peace.”

Koala Bear, the FBR team leader for Kler Lwe Htu District, Lawrence’s team leader, said these words at his funeral:

“Saw Lawrence was very strong in body, heart, and mind. He was a very good medic and we all loved him very much. He always helped and made us smile all the time. When my friend told me there was a casualty from the fighting area and that it was my man, I felt very sad. And guilty because maybe if I told him to leave the fighting area he would not be dead now. Because of this I feel very bad. But when I pray God tells me it is not like this. It is not your fault. Lawrence was a hero and died helping his people, it was his choice. Then I do not feel so bad. We will miss him very much and will help his family as much as we can. We will continue to do the work that Lawrence did.“

Lawrence is the third medic we’ve lost this year. All of them were hit in or near casualty collection points as they were helping others. Each is a tragic loss. This makes us very sad, but we are even more resolved to keep helping people and be part of freedom, of justice, and of reconciliation in Burma. We will do our best to take care of his wife and son. Thank you so much for caring for and praying for him and his family. Thank you for honoring the memory of Lawrence with us.

Thanks and God bless you , Dave, family and FBR