MikeLaw

The standard wikipedia article on the road has a confirmation of sorts. It says that "It received the name 'Thanon Mittraphap' on February 20, 1957." Since this is the exact same date given in the other source for an "unofficial" opening, this has got to be real. Unfortunately, it includes no source. I'll reach out to the Department of State historian as well and see if he can turn anything up with this new information.

Harry, you may well be right. Worst case, I've learned a few things -- so no harm done. The photos don't give enough perspective to determine how close to the road bed the marker is.

Posibly the State Department has a diary of the Secretary of State's engagements if he was there. It may be available through Freedom of Information etc....(Or you may need to try Wikkileaks )

I have a bunch of material on the July 1958 ceremony. I have only just discovered the February 1957 one, which was attended by the US Ambassador.

I tried doing more Google research using Phibunsongkhram's name and I think I found something significant. This guy says that the road was "unofficially opened in 20 February 1957 by Field Marshall Plaek Pibunsonggram and US Ambassador (Max Bishop)" That fits with the dates my family were there, explains the mystery photo that is supposed to be monks at a ceremony for the road and explains the name on the sign. That also makes it possible that the marker is at the Korat end, if the road was in fact "unofficially open" at that time. The poster links to two sources. One of them is a newpaper article, which Google translate tells me indicates that the road unofficially opened in February 2501 (which would match the claim), but it also claims that the King opened the roas in July 2501, when I'm quite sure it was 2502. It also links to the Thai wikipedia, which in turn has a PDF link, which is beyond the ability of Google translate to help me with. I'm not sure it says anything useful anyhow, but it is here for those of you who speak Thai.

I shall concentrate my search on this 20 February 1957 event, which fits with all the pieces I have thus far.

I can not fault your logic. However, the road was not completed and dedicated until July 1958 and my grandmother was diagnosed with cancer and the whole family had to return to the states well before that. I think that the road was not yet completed when they returned. I have some information on the route prior to the completion of the road from an old document from the Department of State that says:

The major purpose of this highway was to promote the economic development of North­ east Thailand. The only highway between Bangkok and Korat, the gateway to the Northeast and its 8 million people, had been 404 Km long. About 300 Km. of this was tortuous and rough. with impassable muddy stretches in rainy season, rocky passages through the mountains, and dozens of narrow, flimsy wooden bridges. Under the best of conditions, it meant 8 or 9 hours of dangerous, car-busting travel. Replacement of this part of the road, between Saraburi and Korat, was considered the most-needed link in the improvement of.Thailand's highway system.

Also the sign refers to Field Marshall Phibunsongkhram and not the King, which means it was erected prior to the coup in September 1957. I know that at the dedication ceremony in 1958 the king and the US Secretary of State attended and any markers erected would not have referred to Phibunsongkhram. In fact, its quite possible that the marker was replaced at that time since Phibunsongkhram was by then in exile and persona non grata. The dedication in 1958 was a big deal and mention of it appeared in newspapers worldwide.

I don't know if you've seen it, but there's a short article on it in Wikipedia:

I've seen that and there are some pretty cool websites that track the later construction during the 60s of the road which are maintained by ex-Army guys who worked on the road at that time. I've reached out to that group and had some very nice correspondance with some of them, but alas no one remembers the actual marker.

On reflection, a municipality official at the time would probably be a better bet. It was probably purchased as a "thank you" to the US for helping fund the project after completion. A young "official" is more likely to have been involved in/attended the actual ceremony rather than a young field engineer - plus you may be looking at a later date for the ceremony and hence a "currently" younger witness.

That's a great idea. I had focused on the US side of the government equation, but the Thai side might be a better bet. I'll do some homework and reach out to a few folks. Thanks for the suggestion.

Unfortunately, I don't even know for certain that it was in Saraburi proper or at the very start of the road. I was hoping that it was close enough to the road that someone might have notced it driving by. Given the time that has elapsed, there is also a distinct possibility that the marker was leveled to make room for other construction in the intervening years. I have reached out to the US State Department, since the road project was theirs and they have helped me find some information, but not enough to locate the marker. I know a lot about the official opening ceremony that was attended by the king, but this marker pre-dates that.

Thanks very much for the suggestion. I wish that Google had done their street view for Saraburi as they have for Bangkok. It has been very helpful at finding locations there. It has turned into some kind of quest for me now!

I have a couple of pictures from 1956 of my family taken near a marker for the Friendship Highway. I would like to be able to recreate this photo on an upcoming visit to Thailand. I know that the sign was erected prior to 1956 because it looks a bit worse for wear already in these photos, but I'm fairly sure that the project began in 1954, so it couldn't have been prior to that date. My grandfather was a civil engineer who worked on this project from 1955-1956 before a family illness forced him to return to the states. The stretch of highway that they built in those years was from Saraburi to Korat. I know that the stretches closer to Korat were the last parts that were completed, so I believe that this marker was somewhere near or in Saraburi. If anyone can identify this marker, its exact location or if it remains standing today, I would be most grateful. I presume it was adjacent to the highway, although I do not know that for certain.

tl112 by MikeLaw804, on Flickr

My grandfather and uncle at the monument

tl81 by MikeLaw804, on Flickr

My grandmother, uncle, mother and aunt at the monument.

I also have another picture which may or may not be related. A note on on the back of the picture says that it was "monks at the dedication ceremony for the Friendship Highway." This could not have been the official opening of the highway ceremony, which took place in 1958 and was attended by the KIng. Perhaps it was a groundbreaking type ceremony associated with the marker or perhaps not. Unfortunately, most of my family who attended are no longer alive, so the only information I really have is that they drove out and back the same day from Bangkok, so that also probably puts it in the Saraburi area.

tl67.friendship hiway dedication by MikeLaw804, on Flickr

Elephants constucting the Friendship Highway 1956 by MikeLaw804, on Flickr

Elephants constructing the Friendship Highway 1956 near Saraburi

tl121 by MikeLaw804, on Flickr

This is the giant swing with a couple of trams in the frame as well. It was taken in either 1955 or 1956.

monument to democracy by MikeLaw804, on Flickr

Looking up Ratchadamnoen Rd to the Democracy Monument in 1956. The red car in the foreground is my grandfather's 1955 Plymouth Savoy.

tl91.silers bakery by MikeLaw804, on Flickr

I'm not 100% sure exactly where this was. It was somewhere on Sukhumvit Road in 1956 and was called Siler's Bakery. It was most likely between Asok & Ekkami BTS stations, but possibly closer in.

paknam1.jpg by MikeLaw804, on Flick

Standing on the side of Sukhumvit Road looking east very close to the present day location of the Asok BTS station in 1957. My grandfather's house was about 100 meters from this spot.

Great lists. My wife likes some spice but not the red hot food that I like, so this is quite helpful. What is Thai for "a little spicy" vice "no spice"?

I don't know if the situation is different here in Thailand but for a long time in Oz coke syrup was imported from the USA in 60 litre plastic containers. The product was only bottled in Oz not made. Trade secrets and all that.

Maybe there are two problems then; cans and base syrup supply

I believe this is true worldwide. The concentrated syrup (in some cases minus sweetner) is manufactured in "secret" to protect the formula and provided to the worldwide bottling plants. However, I doubt there would be a shortage of the stuff as Coke has one of the most effective distribution networks in the world.

I am unable to post an image, presumably because I am a new user. Is the limitation based on time or based on number of posts?

Believe the restriction is 5 posts as it helps stop the spammers.

Understood. That seems perfectly reasonable. I just need to find posts where I can say something that isn't totally inane.

These are some really great pictures. I also have a number of pictures of Thailand from 1956-57 that I will post once I am allowed to do so.

I am unable to post an image, presumably because I am a new user. Is the limitation based on time or based on number of posts?