Thai youth soccer team to become monks to commemorate fallen special forces

Banphot Konkum, father of Duangpetch Promthep, nicknamed Dom, 13, said his son and other members of the soccer team would become monks to commemorate Saman Kunan, a former Thai special forces soldier who died on July 6 while placing equipment along the route in the cave to prepare for the rescue operation.

"We are planning and will do it whenever all the families are ready," Banphot said.Becoming a monk for a period of time is a custom that young men often do inThailand, a country where 95% of the population follows Buddhism.

Dom's grandmother, Kameay Promthep, said she would remind Dom never to go near the cave again because she did not want him to encounter any mishaps or cause trouble for others, according toAP.

"I will tell Dom that he must thank Thai people all over the country and people from all over the world who have been kind enough to help. Without the Thai SEALs, officials and people who came to help, Dom would not be here today," she said. "From now on, Dom will have to be a good boy."

July 10, tAll 12 members of the Thai soccer team and their coach trapped in Tham Luang cave for 18 days have been brought out after three rescue operations.Initially, the families could only see the boys through the hospital window. Now they can speak to them directly but cannot touch them to prevent health risks. The boys will be discharged on July 19.

Saman Kunan, 37, was a member of the Thai Navy SEALs until 2006, when he was discharged and worked at Suvarnabhumi Airport in the aviation security department. He volunteered to go to Chiang Rai to help with the rescue operation after hearing about the boys trapped in the Tham Luang cave. Kunan was hailed as a hero and his funeral was paid for by the Thai royal family.