A US veteran who fought in the Vietnam War has reunited with his Thai stepdaughter 48 years after parting ways.
A US veteran who fought in the Vietnam War has reunited with his Thai stepdaughter 48 years after they parted ways
A touching reunion has taken place in the Thai province of Buriram, touching the hearts of many social media users. Terry Raymond, a 72-year-old American, flew to Thailand to find his stepdaughter Kanjana Milkiewicz, whom he had not seen for 48 years.
The story of this unusual family began during the Vietnam War. About 50 years ago, Terry Raymond, a young US Army soldier, served in Nakhonphanom province in northeastern Thailand. There, he met Supaporn, Kanjana’s mother, who was pregnant by another American who refused to take responsibility for the child. Terry showed generosity and caring by supporting Supaporn during her pregnancy and after Kanjana’s birth.
Raymond cared for the girl until she was a year old, after which he returned to the United States. Kanjana and her mother have not seen him since. Although Terry is not Kanjana’s biological father, she never stops looking for him, feeling a strong emotional connection.
In 2019, Kanjana managed to contact Terry through the internet. Since then, they have been communicating through social media, and Terry promised to come to Thailand as soon as the COVID-19 pandemic situation allowed.
On July 31, 2024, Terry finally flew to Thailand to surprise Kanjana and her mother. However, he ended up in Buriram province due to a language barrier and a misunderstanding with the cab driver. But thanks to the help of the hotel staff, Kanjana recognized her father’s arrival and immediately rushed to him with a red rose and a garland of velvet flowers as a token of love.
“I was overwhelmed with joy and excitement when I saw my father. I never thought we would see each other again after 48 years apart. Although he is not my biological father, he took care of me from the time I was in the womb until I was one year old. I feel a bond between a father and daughter,” said Kanjana.
Terry plans to return to the US on August 21. Until then, he will be living with Kanjana and her mother. Kanjana hopes to visit Terry in the US in the future.
Terry and Kanjana’s case sheds light on a little-known page of history—the presence of the US military in Thailand during the Vietnam War. Nakhonphanom province, where Terry met Kanjana’s mother, was an important strategic point for the US Air Force, from which sorties were flown into Vietnam.
Such stories were not uncommon in Thailand. Many American service members stationed in the country during the Vietnam War had relationships with local women. Some of these relationships resulted in the birth of children known as “luk krueng” (literally “half-breeds”), who often found it challenging to integrate into Thai society and find their American fathers.
Modern technology and the internet have made family reunions possible. Social media, which helped Kanjana and Terry find each other, often plays a vital role in similar stories of reuniting families separated by time and distance.
The public reaction to this story has been overwhelmingly positive. The video of Terry and Kanjana’s reunion posted on social media sparked a wave of congratulations and warm comments from internet users. This shows how stories like this can bring people together and generate empathy across cultural and national boundaries.
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