Book details

  • Genre:family & relationships
  • Sub-genre:General
  • Language:English
  • Pages:324
  • eBook ISBN:9781667812175

LOVE YOU

A devoted couple’s letters and memories from the Vietnam conflict

By Jim Rusk and Kathie Rusk

Overview

Jim and Kathie Rusk's story presents an intimate view of the struggles and triumphs of a military family facing separation and provides insight into the devotion and dedication needed to support all men and women in arms.
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Description

Jim and Kathie Rusk have enjoyed life together for nearly sixty years. Love You's compilation of letters and memories details their commitment to each other while Jim was deployed to Vietnam from July 1969 to July 1970. Their story, presenting an intimate view of the struggles and triumphs of a military family facing separation, provides insight into the devotion and dedication needed to support all men and women in arms.
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About The Author

Jim and Kathie Rusk have enjoyed life together for nearly sixty years. Love You's compilation of letters and memories details their commitment to each other while Jim was deployed to Vietnam from July 1969 to July 1970. Their story, presenting an intimate view of the struggles and triumphs of a military family facing separation, provides insight into the devotion and dedication needed to support all men and women in arms.
Read more

Book Reviews

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Molly
Loved LOVE YOU by Kathie and Jim Rusk I, too, was a military wife whose husband went to S.E.A. During the Viet Nam conflict. Kathie and Jim’s depiction of what life was like for families separated by war time obligations was right on the mark and elicited feelings and memories I had stored away. It opened my eyes to not only to what great patriots and defenders our guys were, but how strong and faithful we gals were to take on the medical, educational, and business responsibilities for our families while our men were away. Their letters told the stories of our trials and tribulations as we put our lives together on hold to cope with trying to give our children the best and closest to normal life we could manage to lessen the trauma of losing their daddies for what seemed forever to a young child. I had forgotten the ache of longing and missed companionship with the man I dearly loved. Kathie’s and Jim’s saga brought that clearly and insightfully back to me. It stirred up memories of decisions that had to be made alone dealing with situations that had always been made together. I don’t know if it was because of our youth, but we forged ahead with confidence and determination. Woven through the Rusk’s letters in addition to the deep seeded love they showed for one another, was the worry and concern for the ever present dangers of war-time living. Jim also showed such a sense of caring and compassion for Kathie as she tried to balance the problems and demands that were add on to an already busy life. Considering the war time atmosphere he was mired in, Jim desperately needed a sounding board and Kathy took on the job without a blink of an eye, although it must have worried her sick hearing about the anguish and trials Jim was struggling through. Yet through out all the letters were the strong threads of hope and planning for the new together future they dreamed of and knew would eventually, they would have together. Their story was written for men and women who lived through a unique time with a unique set of problems, Kathie’s and Jim’s strong voices shown clearly through their writing gave us a glimpse of what American families in the Viet Nam War years had to contend with. Those of us who shared these experiences came out with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the roles each partner had to juggle in order to deal with the pitfalls of everyday living, Thank you Kathie and Jim for sharing your story and reminding me of mine. Read more
LEROY
Love You Having served in Vietnam about the same time, I have to say the feelings exemplified in this book really struck home for me. My opinion is that all of us serving there spent any available time to write to our loved ones. Then anxiously awaited for ANY RESPONSES from home. This personal communication made it so much easier to cope with our untenable separation. I recommend this book for all personnel - military or civilian - separated from their loved ones because of situations beyond their control. My wife and I communicated similarly while apart and I can attest that this mutual communication really strengthened our marriage. Read more