6 people entered the water Nov. 2 is the opening day of recreational crabbing season off the coast of Sonoma County. deadliest events in the last forty years.

They had set out from Westside Regional Park in Bodega Bay in their 21-foot Bayliner early that morning. They hoped to return before dark with crabs in tow, but as they approached the shore the rough sea hit and their boat took on water and sank beneath the waves.

The six included Corning residents Johnny Phommathep and his two sons, Johnny Jr. And there was Jake.

They were joined by Johnny’s cousin Prasong Khammoungkhoune and his son Juladi Khammoungkhoune, as well as Johnny Phommathep’s childhood friend Matthew Ong.

The bodies of two people were foundbut only one has been identified. Four other people are still missing.

One is Prasong’s 13-year-old son. He survived by clinging to an ice chest.

Their loved ones hope to receive good news, but time is not on their side.

“This should never have happened,” said Johnny’s wife, Tiffany Phommathep. “Sometimes I think I can’t cry anymore. But thinking about them makes me cry.”

Tiffany shared details of her five men and boys along with other friends and family members.

Johnny

According to Tiffany, Johnny Phommathep, 41, was ambitious, spontaneous, adventurous and creative. He worked as a technician for AT&T, but in his spare time he volunteered as a firefighter, gardened, and raised chickens. He loved hunting, cooking and spending time with his family. He was half Thai, half Laotian and came to the United States as a child.

He also had a passion for making things like toy boats and signs celebrating his relationship with his wife.

“I can’t even see him at home,” he said, laughing.

Johnny’s younger sister, Karen Panyanouvong, said her brother could be both tough and gentle depending on the situation.

He wrestled with her like a typical big brother, but “whenever I had nightmares he would always tell me to sleep in his room,” she said.

He was a wonderful father and taught his five sons to respect themselves and their mother.

Johnny Jr. (‘JJ’)

17-year-old Johnny Phommathep Jr. loved to cook, like his father.

After the crab trip, she was looking forward to preparing a special stir-fried crab curry for the cooking class. He also planned to show his teacher how to make mango sticky rice.

The family’s oldest son, JJ, played football on both the offensive and defensive lines for the Corning Union High School team and appeared in most of every game, his mother said.

Independent and adventurous, he enjoyed teaching his younger cousins ​​how to play football and shoot basketball. On his family trip to Thailand in 2023, he would try almost every dish, including live squid.

JJ’s body was found in the ocean near Tomales Point on November 3.

jake

Jake Phommathep, 14, was shyer and more reserved than his siblings, his mother said.

He was constantly curious, searching the internet for questions as soon as his siblings asked them, just as his 9-year-old brother Nikos wondered about the vastness of space.

“He wants to make sure he gets the right information,” Tiffany said.

She ran cross country in college and was considering joining track and field in the spring. He had a strong jaw, just like his father.

Tiffany said Jake enjoys spending time outdoors and spotting and researching “antique things” like old machines.

prasong

Prasong Khammoungkhoune, 45, was the owner of the 21-meter Bayliner. He has a wife and four children, including Juladi, who was the sole survivor of the tragedy.

He loved hunting and fishing and often took trips with his family to places like Half Moon Bay and Lake Berryessa. He also loved snowboarding, especially around Lake Tahoe.

Kyle Souvanhnaboupha is Prasong’s nephew. He has been living with his uncle since he was 11 years old. He said he sees Prasong more as a father figure; he taught him to put family first, to stay out of trouble, and to fish.

Tiffany said Prasong was “good to his loved ones.”

He was often seen wearing shirts bearing the logo of Khoune Express LLC, the San Jose-based company he founded 20 years ago.

Matthew

Matthew Ong, 43, had been Johnny’s friend since they met in secondary school.

His friend Peter Kwong told The Press Democrat that Ong was outgoing and thoughtful. He was very hospitable and always looked for ways to make his guests more comfortable.

Ong and Kwong called each other almost every day to talk about food, politics, travel and more.

“I told him that if you were a girl, my wife would be jealous,” Kwong said.

Joe Vang, who has been friends with Ong for more than 25 years, said he was a martial arts fan and practitioner, was tech-savvy, had a large circle of friends and was fiercely loyal.

Ong’s father died when he was young and he had no brothers, so he kept his friends close and helped them as much as he could.

“He kind of looks at friendship as a brotherhood,” Vang said.

Ong’s typically active spirit has slowed since he suffered two heart attacks in the past three years. He had recovered from his last state before the crab trip he had invited Kwong to.

“I said I couldn’t go and then this happened,” Kwong said. “That makes it all the sadder.”