Foreign trio returns to Thailand to reunite with childhood driver after five decades

Ryan TurnerPublished: December 12, 2025, 11:27 AM

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Foreign trio returns to Thailand to reunite with childhood driver after five decades | Thaiger — Foreign trio reunited with their childhood driver in Ubon Ratchathani | Photo courtesy of Paweena Kumlue/Facebook

A touching reunion in Ubon Ratchathani province has captured widespread attention after two foreign men and a woman returned to Thailand to reunite with their childhood caregiver more than five decades ago.

The search began after Facebook user Siw Pittaya Chaisongkhram released an appeal video on Monday, December 8, helping the siblings locate their longtime friend, Poon Pong-aree.

The three had lived in the Isaan province for just over a year in the early 1970s while their father was stationed there with the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War.

According to the family, their father served as a television and radio news anchorman for the American Forces Thailand Network (AFTN) and was based in Ubon Ratchathani between 1971 and 1972. During that period, he brought his wife and three children to Thailand, where they remained for approximately 13 months.

At the time, the eldest sibling was aged around 11 to 12, the sister Lisa was about 8 to 9, and the youngest brother, Mark, was around 7 to 8 years old. During their stay, the family lived with Poon, his wife, their young son, and their infant daughter in a large house in Ubon Ratchathani.

Foreign trio returns to Thailand to reunite with childhood driver after five decades | News by Thaiger — Screenshotted image of the trio’s father during his tenure in Thailand | Courtesy of Siw Pittaya Chaisongkhram

Their search for Poon had been decades in the making. The effort began in November 2024, when Mark travelled ahead of his siblings to reconnect with the country and begin the search.

During that trip, Mark was involved in a motorcycle accident in Chiang Mai, breaking his ankle. The injury was initially misdiagnosed in both Chiang Mai and Bangkok before being correctly identified and treated in Ubon Ratchathani.

While recovering, Siw coordinated the reuniting efforts, and the search quickly gained traction when a local doctor, Dr Bow, recognised Poon’s name and contacted the page. The following day, December 10, the group travelled with Siw to meet the now-elderly man in Ubon Ratchathani.

The story spread widely online after the popular Facebook page Drama-addict reshared Siw’s updates, drawing thousands of comments celebrating the reunion and the resilience of childhood memories.

The siblings have since decided to take responsibility for Poon’s healthcare costs, saying they believe they would not be alive today without his protection. They describe him as someone who holds a permanent and deeply respected place in their lives, adding that the story does not end with the reunion.