09/22/14

Leonard Rugh:

I was born in Glendale, California in August 1945 and raised in Southern California. We moved a couple of times before I graduated from high school in 1963. I attended college, but realized I was in need of money if I was going to continue. I dropped out and went to work at two jobs for a time.

My day job was with the phone company. I would get off work at five, drive to my apartment take a shower then head to Pasadena where I worked at the Bob’s Big Boy drive-in as a part-time cook and lot attendant.

In 1966, I left the phone company and began working as a manager trainee/breakfast cook at the Bob’s next to Pasadena City College. It’s where I met my wife, Lu. About a year and a half after we married, our life really changed. I was drafted.

After my required sixteen weeks of training, I was sent to Vietnam. I spent over seven months fighting in that war. Sept. 4^th, 1969 I was shot in the head while on patrol in the jungles north of Saigon. No one thought I’d survive. Even months later, the doctors were baffled not only by my survival, but my progress in spite of my injury. My memories of the event and recurring nightmares of me causing the deaths of my platoon haunted me for years.

In November 1971, I was discharged from the VA Hospital in Long Beach. They sent me home to sit and do nothing for the rest of my life. Well, that wasn’t in my nature so a year after our daughter was born in August 1973 I decided to attend college. With my devoted wife by my side, I struggled with classes and transportation for nine years. It was the answer to my ‘impossible dream’ when in May 1983 I walked across the stage and received my diploma for a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science.

 Luanna Rugh:

I was born in Modesto California in June 1945. I grew up on a dairy until my fourteenth birthday when my family moved to Southern California. I graduated from High School in 1963. I attended Pasadena City College and graduated in ‘65 with an Associate of Arts degree in Biology. I began working on a teaching credential at Cal State, Los Angeles, but had to drop out for lack of funds.

I went to work at the Bob’s Big Boy next to PCC where in the summer of 1966, I met the man of my heart. Len and I were married in February 1967. Len being drafted and subsequently wounded caused our life to change drastically. It was a very difficult time in both of our lives, but I knew we would survive this ordeal.

I had taken a few classes while Len was in Vietnam and when our daughter was two, I went back to complete my Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology. Seven years later, in 1984, I finished the year required for my teaching credential.

I work for the school district on a part-time basis and can be seen walking or riding the bus with two to four of my multi-handicapped students heading to job sites.

 Len & Lu:

Today we live quietly at our condo in Laguna Woods, California. We are members of the Lagunita Writers Group, with whom we meet every Monday evening. The information, suggestions and encouragement we have received from this group have been invaluable.

 We travel in our motor home whenever possible. Recently, our daughter, son-in-law and two grandsons now live in Kansas City, so that will be the our destination for future trips.

In 2007, we celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary with friends and family. We feel truly blessed to be here, to be together and to be surrounded by loving family and friends