Tragedy has struck R.A. the Rugged Man once again as his father, Staff Sgt. John A. Thorburn, passed away last Thursday (January 7) at the age of 63.

The Vietnam war hero had been diagnosed with fourth stage cancer in 2007, a year before R.A. wrote his verse on Jedi Mind Tricks’ “Uncommon Valor: A Vietnam Story,” a song where he detailed his father’s experiences in Vietnam and the affect his exposure to the chemical Agent Orange had on his siblings, who were both born with birth defects. R.A.’s younger brother Maxx died at the age of 10 as a direct result.

R.A.’s father, who was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross for his accomplishments in the Vietnam War and a Purple Heart among many other awards, will also be the subject of an upcoming documentary that’s in production now. XXLMag.com sends its condolences to R.A. and his family. —Brooklyne Gipson