Death
Princess Vibavadi often visited soldiers and the Border Patrol police stationed in areas where communist insurgency then existed. On the morning of February 16, 1977, she set off on what should have been a routine visit to villages and to boost the morale of troops at Wiang Sa district in Surat Thani. While flying to her destination in an army helicopter, she heard a radio message saying two Border Patrol policeman had been wounded by a landmine. She immediately ordered the flight diverted to pick up the wounded men and rush them to a hospital. As they flew at low altitude over Ban Nua Khlong, the helicopter was attacked from the ground by communist insurgents. A burst of heavy machine gun fire not only crippled the helicopter, but also seriously wounded the Princess. She died one hour later.
Prior to her royally sponsored cremation at Ratchabophit temple, on April 4, 1977, in recognition of her services to the country and the people, H.M. the King elevated her to the higher royal rank of Phra Chao Worawongse Ther Phra Ong Chao (Her Royal Highness) and awarded her the highest level of the most Illustrious Order of the House of Chakri.
Read more about this topic: Vibhavadi Rangsit
Famous quotes containing the word death:
“Two graves must hide thine and my corse;
If one might, death were no divorce.”
—John Donne (1572–1631)
“There is a rhythm to the ending of a marriage just like the rhythm of a courtship—only backward. You try to start again but get into blaming over and over. Finally you are both worn out, exhausted, hopeless. Then lawyers are called in to pick clean the corpses. The death has occurred much earlier.”
—Erica Jong (b. 1942)
“In taking out an insurance policy one pays for it in dollars and cents, always at liberty to discontinue payments. If, however, woman’s premium is a husband, she pays for it with her name, her privacy, her self-respect, her very life, “until death doth part.””
—Emma Goldman (1869–1940)