This book is about the incredible journey of an ambassador for peace, from the Khmer Rouge killing fields to the Rotary Club of Portland and the fellowship of the Royal Rosarians, through minefields, rockets, bullets, refugee camps, and Reed College.



Golden Leaf is the memoir of a Khmer Rouge genocide survivor who gives new meaning to the term “golden leaf”:

golden leaf (gōl'dən lēf) n., pl. golden leaves (gōl'dən lēvz)
1.    a survivor of a heinous act against humanity, especially genocide.
2.    Golden Leaf (pl. Golden Leaves):
a.    A person who survived the Khmer Rouge genocide: “Golden Leaf, A Khmer Rouge Genocide Survivor” (Kilong Ung).
3.    one who survives against extreme odds.

As recounted in his memoir, Kilong Ung was a leaf at the mercy of the wind. The wind carried him from one remote part of the world to another. It blew him through turbulence and catastrophic weather. It took him to a Khmer Rouge labor camp and lingered for an eternity. It dehydrated him and nearly starved him to death. Ung helplessly watched the most devilish mother of all winds ruthlessly crush his tree into lifeless pulp. Like an almighty Olympian god, when the wind wanted to toy with him, it blew him through minefields, rockets, and bullets. While two million leaves disintegrated, Ung persevered. Through an extraordinary journey, he discovered himself. He is fortunate, and he doesn’t easily perish. He was a golden leaf. Against all odds, he survived, laid down roots, and became a tree.

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“Mr. Ung, an accomplished storyteller and author, turns an unbelievably negative experience into a positive by portraying to readers his survival against modern-day genocide. The courage he displays to confront his past and share the story is both provocative and penetrating.”
— Al Jubitz, President, Jubitz Family Foundation

“Kilong’s courageous story reveals the power of the human spirit to survive one of the worst tragedies in recent world history. He gives us hope that goodness will always prevail.”
— Bhavia Wagner, Author of Soul Survivors: Stories of Women and Children in Cambodia and Executive Director of Friendship With Cambodia

“Meet Kilong Ung, a gentle man of fierce intensity whose story will inspire you to make this world a better and more beautiful place in which to live. Conclude as I have that the American dream is merely a launch pad for this survivor of the killing fields.”
— Bob Strader, 2007 Prime Minister of the Royal Rosarians

“From the jungles, through the landmines and starvation, through the hopelessness and the tragic loss of his parents, to a golden leaf who brings light to the world’s ugliness. His story, his suffering: His journey is one that makes every one of us wonder why and how. And yet through the horrors, he was able to use these experiences as a strength to build himself, to provide for and protect his family, and to better this crazy and beautiful world. This is the Kilong Ung that I know. This is the golden leaf who made me a better person. I am grateful for his gift to me and to this world.”
— Chanly Bob, Chairman, Cambodian-American Community of Oregon

“Kilong Ung’s Golden Leaf is the epic tale of escape from Pol Pot’s Cambodia, a journey so horrific that Mephistopheles cringes with every step. His story represents the stories of many genocide survivors who are left with a Pyrrhic victory. Golden Leaf is a must-read.”
— Claxton Welch, Former Dallas Cowboys Player and Super Bowl Veteran

“Kilong’s story proves the height to which the human spirit can reach and the depth of horrors humanity can instill upon itself. Kilong’s passion for life is an inspiration for us to remember that most of those in our world are much less fortunate and persevere through difficult circumstances we can barely imagine. Golden Leaf gives us visions of desperation and hope. Hopefully, we can use those visions to guide ourselves.”
— Darin D. Honn, Attorney,

Past President of the Rotary Club of Portland, 2003-2004
“Golden Leaf is a memoir that must be read. Kilong Ung takes us deep into Cambodia’s recent history and his memories of childhood under the Khmer Rouge. In this compelling and powerful narrative, he seeks to understand the reasons behind the genocide and his own survival. Ung writes with honesty, courage, and passion, detailing both the horrors of genocide and his coming of age in Cambodia and the U.S. Ultimately, this is a story of resilience and hope.”
— Patti Duncan, Author of Tell This Silence: Asian American Women Writers and the Politics of Speech

“In his book, Kilong expresses in vivid detail his treacherous journey from genocide survivor to the present in his quest for peace within himself and others of this world. The book will take you through the full range of thoughts and emotions and persuade you that he is eminently qualified to be a leader in the battles for peace in this world.”
— Thomas L. Moultrie, Senior Judge, State of Oregon

“Golden Leaf is a ‘must read’ for people to learn about the depth of the human spirit and ability to transcend tragedy. Khmer and non-Khmer audiences will gain great knowledge from this book and will appreciate this ‘golden opportunity’ to learn about the resilience of the Khmer spirit.”
— Tiara Delgado, Writer, Khmer Post Newspaper, Long Beach, California, and Documentary-Film Maker