Loss of a Ranger: Saw Dhay Baw
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
Dear friends,
It is with great sadness that we inform you of the death of Saw Dhay Baw, a Ranger who died while rescuing a fallen comrade on 13 April 2026. He was killed in his home area of Karen State when a Burma Army mortar round exploded nearby and mortally wounded him. He was 21 years old.
Saw Dhay Baw was talented and fit, graduating from Basic Ranger Training in 2024 and participating immediately afterwards on a mission. More recently, he graduated with distinction from Advanced Ranger Training in 2025. He served faithfully as a Ranger, bringing help, hope, and love to his people caught in the fighting.
Well-liked and respected by his peers and teachers, Saw Dhay Baw excelled during training and was a joy to have on missions. As a young boy, Saw Dhay Baw had excelled as a singer and used his talents to be an excellent Good Life Club counselor. He brought joy and hope to many children who had been displaced by attacks on their homes.
Saw Dhay Baw volunteered to leave his home area for Ranger training in order to help not only his people, but also to serve alongside other ethnic people who desire freedom for Burma. Then, after serving in the conflict as a Ranger bringing the gospel and relief to those affected by the fighting, he further volunteered for advanced training in order to expand his skills to further serve his people and also grow in leadership and responsibility. He always gave 100% and then some during advanced Ranger training and when the choice came to risk giving his life he offered that too.
David Eubank said of Saw Dhay Baw: "Ranger Dhay Baw was an outstanding young trainee the very first time he came to camp. He impressed me with his smile, his humility, and his constant effort. He endeared himself also to my wife, Karen, for whom he was a great help during Good Life Club programs. And for Sahale, Suuzanne, and Peter, he was a friend, teammate, companion, and they are very saddened by his loss. After his initial training and first series of missions, he came back as an advanced Ranger. He quickly became one of the top leaders. His enthusiasm, ready smile, physical courage, and strength were an inspiration for all of us. When I heard he had been killed rescuing one of the wounded, I was very sad. However, I was not surprised that he would risk his life again and again for someone else. He exemplifies the words of Jesus in John 15:13, 'Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down life for his friends.' We miss him but thank God he’s in heaven, and we pray for comfort for his family. We will do our best to support them."
Before he left home for his last mission, to support resistance forces as a Ranger medic, Saw Dhay Baw had a long conversation with his father, who is also a Christian. They talked late into the night and his father said, “We will see each other again, and we would like to soon. But if we can't see each other again on Earth, we will for sure see each other in Heaven.”
His mother, after his death, prayed to God, saying, “It is really hard for us, but I will accept your will.”
His father quoted scripture, saying, “The Lord gave, the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
Many of us knew Saw Dhay Baw and are grieving his loss alongside his parents. The loss of this exceptional Ranger is tragic and he touched many lives in his two years as a Free Burma Ranger. One of our team members said about him: "Saw Dhay Baw was such a fun student and will be so missed! I remember how well he led and participated in the advanced Good Life Club (GLC) training and the village visit we did. He was so considerate and kind in conversation (even when he had to correct the way I said his name MANY times)."
Another said: "It was extremely heartbreaking to hear of Saw Dhay Baw's death. I had the honor of spending time with him and teaching him during advanced Ranger training this last year. He was always happy and smiling he will definitely be missed."
We are so sorry for the loss of Saw Dhay Baw but are also inspired by the way he lived his life. Thank you for joining us in grieving him. Please pray for comfort for his family and for the success of the cause he gave his life for: a free Burma.
Thank you and God bless you,
The Free Burma Rangers