Salath Rasasack

Former Congressman, Senator, Colonel, General of the Royal Lao Government Police, and Royal Lao Army Officer, Mr. Salath Rasasack, age 90, of Memphis, Tennessee, passed away on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, at his Atlanta home after a struggle with cholangiocarcinoma. He was surrounded by his wife, Ms. Chansouk Rasasack, niece Ms. Outtama, and caregiver Ms. Shamara Spencer.

Mr. Salath Rasasack was born on April 10, 1934, in Bane Singtha, Savannakhet, Laos, to parents Mr. Bounhong and Mrs. Liam Rasasack (both deceased). Mr. Rasasack was the tenth of twelve siblings (all deceased). He married his sweetheart, Ms. Mani Chansouk Manibod, daughter of "old" high dignitary, nobility of Saravane State, Phagna Tha Manibod, former Governor of Saravane, former mayor, and Supreme Court Justice of Laos in 1959, and granddaughter of Le Marquis Phagna Thammaracha (a nobleman). Together they had four children: three sons and one daughter — Mr. Salysanh Rasasack (deceased), Mr. Souksanh Rasasack, Mr. Sacksith Rasasack, all of Memphis, Tennessee, and their daughter, Dr. Soukhy Mont d’Or Rasasack Clark, Ph.D., of Atlanta, Georgia.

Mr. Rasasack was educated at the College of Savannakhet in Laos. He furthered his education in police commissioner officer training in Chalon-Sur-Saone and Saint-Cyr-au-Mont d’Or, France. As part of his police commissioner training, Mr. Rasasack trained not only in France but also in Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore. Mr. Rasasack spoke five languages.

Mr. Rasasack served as the General of the Royal Lao Government Police and was elected as a Congressman for the Province of Saravane, Laos. He was later elected as a Minister and Senator to the Two-Party Member of the Coalition for Peace of Laos. Mr. Rasasack disappeared in 1975 (the year the Lao People's Democratic Republic was proclaimed) after he was summoned by the President of the Coalition Assembly. His only daughter, Soukhy, was just four years old. It was later learned that the patriarch of the Rasasack family had been taken to a political prison concentration camp in Sopane Samneua, Laos, where many high-ranking officials within the Royal Lao Government were systematically executed for their views against the communist regime of Laos.

The family that once hobnobbed with the Royal Family of Laos became homeless when they became refugees in Thailand. It was later revealed that Amnesty International of Japan (Ms. Mikiko Maeda, Mr. Saburo Mizukani) and others negotiated Mr. Rasasack’s release as a political prisoner of war on May 8, 1991. His oldest son, Salysanh “Ta” Rasasack, sought guidance, support, and counsel from local politicians and supporters, including then-Congressman Don Sunquist (R-Tenn.), later the 47th governor of Tennessee, City Councilman A.D. Alisandratos of Memphis, and President George H. W. Bush, the 41st U.S. President, for his expedited political asylum to a life of freedom in the United States. His wife, children, and over 300 supporters, many from the Laotian community, along with the media, welcomed Mr. Rasasack to Memphis, Tennessee, on November 13, 1991, at Memphis International Airport.

Mr. Rasasack’s love for his family, extended family, and friends was evident in all his time and communications with them. He cherished family gatherings with family and friends. Compassionately and affectionately known to his family and loved ones as “Papa,” he especially adored his only daughter, Soukhy Rasasack Clark, and his grandchildren, Amber Rasasack (Donna), Morradoak Rasasack (Selena), Staff Sergeant Preston Rasasack (United States Army Ranger, 75th Ranger Regiment) (Alexandria), Itthipoaln Rasasack, Padethkane Rasasack, Isabella Taylor Luz (Clark), and Rasathida Rasasack, and his great-grandchildren, Melvin Rasasack and Eloise Cresencia Rasasack.

His hobbies included reading, traveling, singing, dancing, watching local and national news, and sports, especially soccer, learning about various cultures, and spending time with his beloved family and friends. Papa dedicated his time to influencing his family to appreciate education and service to the community. More importantly, he helped influence his family and friends to love, respect, and honor the United States, his adopted home country, and its servicemen and servicewomen. Papa was an avid supporter of the Wounded Warrior Project, whose mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors.

Papa loved his adopted country and valued his relationships with others. He enjoyed life to the fullest. Papa’s humble beginnings influenced his life of service to others. Though he spent 16 years in a political prison, Papa was not a bitter man. He lived a life rich with experiences, service to others, and nurturing relationships and connections. Papa left a legacy of service, kindness, hard work, resilience, strength, and love to all who were blessed to know him. Most recently, he was interviewed by Ms. Susan Caolo, an anthropologist, oral historian, and executive director of Preservation Legacy Inc. This interview is now permanently preserved as part of a special “U.S. Secret War in Laos Collection” at the Library of Congress in Washington D.C.

He is survived by his wife, Ms. Chansouk Manibod Rasasack; two sons, Souksanh Rasasack (Thuvan) and Sacksith Rasasack (Somlith); his daughter, Dr. Soukhy Rasasack Clark (John D. Clark III); and a host of grandchildren, nieces, nephews, in-laws, and friends that reside in over 15 states and across six continents. He was preceded in death by his oldest son, Salysanh “Ta” Rasasack (Davy).

Mr. Salath Rasasack received various awards during his lifetime, including the Key to the City of Memphis and the Vietnam Era Veteran Medallion, an award given to men and women who served honorably in support of the United States and its diplomacy during the Secret War in Laos.

The Rasasack, Manibod, and Clark families would like to thank each of you for your love, support, and prayers as we take time to process and grieve the sadness and loss of such a great man. Additionally, the family would like to thank the various Laotian and American communities, men and women of the Royal Lao Government Police, Royal Lao Army, and the Georgia Honor Guard. Special gratitude is extended to Ethica Health, Affinis Hospice, and Team Traditions at Traditions Health and Rehabilitation for the excellent care they provided for our Papa.

A visitation for Salath will be held Saturday, September 7, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM at Advantage Funeral Home And Cremation Services, 500 Harbins Road, Lilburn, GA 30047, followed by a funeral service from 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM.

May God bless each of you and the United States of America.