Loss of a Ranger: Benedict To

5 February 2025

Shan State, Burma

Dear friends,

It is with sadness and shock that we announce the passing of Ranger Benedict To, who was killed by Burma Army mortar fire on 5 February 2025, in Moebya, Shan State, Burma.

Benedict To was one of our advanced Karenni Rangers and among the most outstanding young men ever to go through our program. He was intelligent, cheerful, loving, strong, extremely fit, an extremely skilled football player, and a friend to all. He helped teach and mentor the new Rangers and always went wherever the need was greatest or where the danger was greatest, even when others did not dare to go.

On February 5, Benedict To was helping treat the wounded of an ongoing battle between the Burma military and resistance forces in Moebya, Shan State, just across the border from his native Karenni State. The danger in Moebya was great, the Burma Army was constantly attacking with machine guns, RPGs, mortars, and drone bombs, while their supporting jet fighters conducted regular bombing and strafing runs. Benedict To, despite the danger, took part in saving 15 wounded but lost his life doing so. He was working at a Casualty Collection Point (CCP), a forward location set up to treat the wounded before evacuating them for further medical care, when a mortar dropped directly on his position. The explosion wounded him and two other Rangers, Poe Aung and Moo Reh. Our Ranger medics immediately began working on them all and stabilized both Poe Aung and Moo Reh but Benedict To’s wounds were too severe and he bled to death within minutes.

We are now at Benedict To’s village with his family as they mourn. We brought all the Rangers and postponed all our Good Life Club programs to be with his family and his village. His grandfather, whom we met two years ago, is also here and he’s a wonderful man. Please pray for Benedict To’s family and this community as they have lost one of the most outstanding men in the nation. He comes from a family whose influence is felt across Burma. His influence on our hearts and the hearts of all the Rangers is obvious. We’ve all cried a lot; it’s very hard to stop crying.

I asked a Karenni pastor here, did he think any of this was worth it? He replied “Yes, I’m just a pastor, but I’ve not been able to go back to my church for four years since the coup. How will we have freedom if we do not stand up? How else will we be able to live as humans; with dignity and rights? It would be an insult to all those who have already given their lives to give up now. This fight is a good one, a sacrifice for love and dignity. We do not want to go back into slavery as the dictators want us to. So we pray to God that there will be a change. Now we are crying, but we are grateful for those people willing to take a stand and sacrifice all. So yes, it’s worth it. And we have to pray to Jesus to help us all.” I listened to him, prayed with him, and agreed. We need to continue the work of helping people and getting the news out even though it’s cost us dearly. All told, we have lost 66 Rangers killed and over 200 wounded in Burma and the Middle East. Its a huge loss but we won’t insult their memory by giving up now because dignity, freedom, and, most importantly, love, is worth it.

We’re so thankful for the life Benedict To lived and we thank Jesus that someday we will be able live alongside him forever. We are also thankful for you, for your prayer and support, and for joining us in mourning our fallen brother.

Below are more photos of Benedict To and his funeral as well as a poem memorializing him written by one our team.

Thank you and God bless,

Dave, family, and FBR