Loss of a Ranger: Naw Say Moo Paw
10 March 2025
Karen State, Burma
Dear friends,
It is with deep sorrow and heavy hearts that we remember and honor Naw Say Moo Paw, a beloved Free Burma Ranger (FBR) medic, who tragically lost her life in Karen State on March 10, 2025, after being severely burned in an airstrike carried out by the Burma military. She was just 25 years old with a future full of promise. She was taken from us too soon.
On March 8, 2025, in Htaw Ta Htoo Township, Taw Oo District, Karen State, the Burma military targeted a Casualty Collection Point (CCP) with incendiary bombs where a coalition of local and FBR medics were treating many wounded people. Naw Say Moo Paw was one of the medics treating the wounded at the CCP and suffered severe burns across most of her body due to the Burma military attack. She fought bravely for her life before succumbing to her wounds on March 10, 2025. Another medic was killed instantly, while a third was seriously wounded. The loss of Naw Say Moo Paw has left us in shock and mourning.
After completing her Jungle School of Medicine Kawthoolei (JSMK) training in 2023, she became a skilled and compassionate medic at Hu Mu Del Clinic, serving her community in Htantabin Township. Her dedication extended beyond FBR. She was also a proud member of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) Brigade 2 in Toungoo District, fighting for the freedom of her people and treating her comrade’s wounds.
Naw Say Moo Paw was a beautiful young woman with a gentle spirit, a kind heart, and a lovely singing voice she used to praise God, bringing joy and peace to those around her. She was known for her warm embrace, radiant smile, and unwavering dedication to helping others. Whether at JSMK, in training, or on the front lines, she was always the first to go into danger to care for the sick and wounded. She demonstrated unwavering courage, never backing down from her mission to care for the oppressed and injured. She was tireless and patient, often sitting for hours on the jungle floor, tending to displaced people suffering from various illnesses. Her gentle touch and exceptional medical care brought healing and comfort to many. To those who knew her, she was not just a fellow Ranger—she was family.
For those privileged to have known her, Naw Say Moo Paw was an angel. She welcomed people with open arms and a caring heart, and her presence brought comfort to many. A friend recalls arriving at the Toungoo clinic after a long, grueling journey, 10 weeks pregnant, only to be greeted with Naw Say Moo Paw’s biggest hug and sweetest smile. Later, when the friend fell gravely ill, Naw Say Moo Paw nursed her back to health, making special soup, staying by her side, and ensuring both mother and child were safe. Her selflessness and compassion touched countless lives.
Dave Eubank, the Founder of FBR, said about Naw Say Moo Paw “When I would see her in camp or in training, she would hug Karen and me with a big smile. She was so friendly to everyone and at the same time was the first to go to any area of danger to help people who were sick or wounded. She was so sweet and I felt like she was my daughter. She was just with our two daughters Sahale and Suu and laughing with Pete, on an earlier mission and watching them work and sing together gave me great joy. Now she’s with Jesus in heaven, and we are mourning her loss. We will do our best to help her family. “
Today, we honor her memory, her sacrifice, and her unbreakable spirit. She was more than a medic; she was a healer, a sister, and a friend. Though she is no longer with us, we find peace in knowing she is with Jesus in heaven.
Please join us in praying for her family, for the people of Burma, and for an end to the suffering inflicted by the Burma military. May the world stand together to help the people of Burma find freedom from this evil.
Thank you and God bless you,
The Free Burma Rangers
More pictures of our fallen sister below (Warning: second to last picture shows her wounds)
