In what is looking more and more like sad news, a USAF Vietnam Veteran who i have interviewed and forged a bond with Ed Rasimus, i have been alerted that his health in this last week is taking a turn for the worse and he is not expected to live much longer as a result of his illness.
It is very sad to hear of a popular, talented, very interesting and hard working veteran nearly succumbing to ill health, another reminder we need to look up to the veterans and record their history before they pass on.
Ed is a veteran of flying operations in the 1960s and 1970s as he served in the USAF flying F-105 and F-4 Phantoms over Vietnam in 2 tours. Ed has been recognised for his post war writings which included a few books of his Vietnam War experience – When Thunder Rolled and Palace Cobra.
The only flying F-4 Phantom in the US as a warbird was a way to understand what men like Ed faced in Vietnam. Sadly no F-105 Thunderchief flies and men like Ed would like to still see one day a warbird Thud fly.
Here is my story i wrote around 2 years ago after talking to Ed – http://heritageflightgeardisplays.wordpress.com/2011/01/28/usaf-pilot-vietnam-war-experiences/ . I am in process of doing another Vietnam Vet story of his times on F-105 Thunderchiefs soon.
By: inverbrass - 11th February 2013 at 02:06
Sorry, not ’25 hour day’. But ‘There is a way!’ – a must watch!
By: ZRX61 - 9th February 2013 at 07:35
Christina Olds posted on FB that he passed on Jan 30th.
By: inverbrass - 9th February 2013 at 02:52
Finally twigged a while back that Ed is the same chap in ’25 hour day’ on you tube. A fabulous film about the 105 force in SEA. With along with Ed, the likes of Karl Richter. And for those of you who wondered whose voice spoke so hauntingly of how dark and scary it was up there in the opening titles to ‘flight of the intruder’ you’ll find that gentleman there to. Thud drivers rock!!!
By: Jayce - 27th January 2013 at 21:52
Sorry to hear, Daniel.
By: The Bump - 27th January 2013 at 20:35
Very sad news.
‘When thunder rolled’ is a fantastic book, utterly gripping as is ‘Palace Cobra’
By: trumper - 27th January 2013 at 12:52
It one way it is sad but the best way to look at it is that he has survived long enough to die at home and of natural causes.
Thanks for posting,i really need to read more about that era.
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January 26, 2013 at 10:35 pm