Readers

A Thank You

November 6, 2009

Mr. and Mrs. Rugh,

Thank you for coming out to Crown Valley Elementary this morning. On behalf of the staff and the students, I wanted to let to you know how appreciative we are for all you've given to the community and our country. Additionally, I would be honored if you would consider joining Crown Valley for the Laguna Niguel Parade on the morning of Saturday, December 18. In anticipation, I scheduled a convertible Mustang for the two of you to ride in along with our student council officers. I understand schedules are tight during the holidays, but I wanted to extend the invitation.

Once again, thank you for visiting CVES and sharing your story.

Sincerely,

Anthony Bogle

Principal

Crown Valley Elementary School

Remarkable Love Story

I have finished your book – what a remarkable love story! Thank you for writing it – I am recommending it to all my friends and acquaintances. I couldn’t put it down until I got so sleepy it would fall out of my hands. It’s amazing how similar our lives have been in many ways, but I marvel at what you have done – both of you. I am grateful that you were spared to come home and that a very special lady was there for you. I include you both in that circle of friends who I consider truly great and remarkable. However, I’m going to have to admit something a little embarrassing: the first day we got on the bus to NIH... Lu was kind of being in charge of most everyone, and I thought “what a pushy lady, that poor guy!” And then we got to know one another and I found it was really easy to like you, and now I know that if Lu hadn’t learned to be insistent (that’s a better word than pushy, right?) probably neither one of you would have survived – so thanks Lu; getting to know you both was one of the great experiences of my life. That book is incredible, from the title to the story. When you said you went back and forth between what you were each experiencing resulted in making it really powerful to me, but when you explained how you’d approached the writing I thought, “Wow, I’m not sure that can work to hold readers of varying interest to the finish," but it was perfect! I found myself laughing at times (for example, unfortunately we do learn some horrid language in the military) and crying at others.

With love and respect,

The Johnsons (Austin Ray and Susan), Richland, WA

PS: I kidded Len about not looking like the young man on the cover – actually you do look like that young man; and it makes for a better world that you are him.

This book is an American treasure. The true story of one couple's promises to each other; their enduring love, commitment, and the ability to overcome the tragedy which almost took Len's life in the Vietnam War, grabs the reader from page one. And it continues to hold him/her through the steamy, bug-infested jungles of Vietnam, where the VC awaits around every corner, and the infantrymen of the 199th Light Infantry Brigade never know which day may be their last. The tension and emotion continue in the black days following Len's horrific head injury, when he is taken back home on a stretcher, the doctors doubtful he will survive; to the love of a young wife who stands by his side 'for better or for worse' as she helps her husband learn to walk and talk again, and to retain his dignity. The reader cannot help but root for Len, who is deemed by the VA to be 'untrainable,' as he struggles to finish college, and when he does, shares his pride. And he/she cannot help but celebrate with Len and Lu on the day their daughter is born--the child who was not supposed to be--the child who brings so much joy into their lives. This book definitely has something for every reader, young or old; whether he or she is currently serving in the military or has served at any time, or in any war. It grabs the reader who relishes a true and enduring love story; or one who loves reading about two humans' endurance, and their ability to overcome all the odds stacked against them. As for myself, I also found this book to be very healing. Being a Vietnam War widow, I at last experienced first-hand the horribleness of this war and the unbelievable struggles of the soldiers fighting it. And at the same time, I finally came to more fully understand why it had to be fought. More than anything else, however, I found myself in such awe and admiration of the young couple within the pages of this fine book. For their life story is surely a miracle come true--one of many 'promises kept.'

Len Rugh was shot in the head by an AK-47 round during a patrol in the jungles of Vietnam. Instead of becoming one of the over 58,000 names on `The Wall' in Washington DC, he survived and made it home, carried on a stretcher, more dead than alive. The book, Promises Kept How One Couple's Love Survived Vietnam, tells the story of how his wife, Luanna, stood by his side, how he was able to live a full and rich life-despite his limitations, how love survived against all odds, and how he gained peace thirty-one years after returning from the war.
The story begins at the moment Len's draft notice arrived in August, 1968 and continues to the present. Len began writing the book over twenty years ago. Its publication is evidence of his dedication to the project, Luanna's support and encouragement, and their willingness to tell the whole story.
The book will prove inspiration to all those who have suffered head injury, those who love them, Vietnam vets and their families, and everyone who enjoys a well-told story. It's about far more than Vietnam or injury or recovery. It's a testament to gritty determination and the triumph of love.

I just finished "Promises Kept" which gave me a more sincere appreciation of your "trials and tribulations." The twenty-third Psalm verse sums it up more than any other statement: "Even though I walk through the valley dark as death, I fear no evil, for thou are with me." "Promises kept" is truly an odyssey that anyone who lived through the Vietnam era should read.

...I can flatly state that [the] book is one of the best human interest sagas I have ever read...this saga should be made into a movie! I can see the first sequence at The Wall, the slow walk down the path to "1969," the shock of not finding the "names," the flashback to Vietnam, the action, the firefights, the patriots, etc... It brings tears to my old weather-beaten eyes just visualizing you winning the impossible dream after all.

Of all the books I have read about conflicts our country has been engaged in, "Promises Kept" tops the list of sincere narrative achievements, bar none.