More detail on this person: I do not know if my
late boyhood friend was a member of the VHPA, but
he was ONE WITH YOU in his pursuit of a rotary
pilot's wings and his combat service in Vietnam
almost four decades ago. This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site:
03/10/2024
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An insidious cancer claimed him two days ago at
Hines Veterans Hospital outside Chicago. He had
battled it for six years. Earlier tonight I spoke
to his widow who he met and dated in high school
and waited to marry until he he returned from
Vietnam; they had a great life together for 35
years. I pledged to her that I would share his
passing with those he served with and all those
who would understand HOW he served... you
members of the rotary aircrews from Vietnam.
My buddy, Bruce, was NOT a joiner of traditional
veterans' service organizations... instead he
belonged to community organizations whose
participation and support of veterans is legendary
--- like the Elks.
Despite curiosity it was difficult for him to join
in and attend reunions like those sponsored by the
VHPA and his own company, the 161st Avn Co
"Pelicans." According to his wife it just hurt
too much... he never visited OUR WALL in
Washington, DC, and almost made it to the site of
a "traveling" wall a few years go --- but he could
not leave the parking lot that day. But, we all
recognize that there is NOTHING wrong with that.
My friend of a lifetime was just being honest
enough to not wanting to hurt again like he had as
a 21 year old helo pilot in Vietnam during '67-68
when friends were lost or hurt.
This week we shall remember him at a visitation,
mourn him during a memorial and pray for his soul
at a funeral mass --- and you should also, because
he was ONE WITH YOU in times past... when it
counted AND when it meant a great deal - when it
meant everything.
From: Brian Mulcrone
OBITUARY - Bruce A. RUKS (1947-2005)
Memorial Visitation - 6:00pm to 9:00pm, Thursday
evening, September 1, 2005, OLSON Funeral
Home, 6471 North Northwest Highway, Chicago, IL
60631, 847-966-8818. Mass - 10:00am, St. Juliana
Parish, 7400 West, Touhy AVE, Chicago, IL 60631,
773-631-1125
Husband, father, helicopter pilot, Vietnam
veteran, super-salesman and loyal volunteer with
the Elks of Arlington Heights Lodge #2048.
I met Bruce 49 years ago on LILL St in Niles, IL,
where both our families had moved into brand new
houses. We were city kids who rejoiced in moving
to the `burbs where we could tramp through fields
of prairie grass flushing pheasants and play WAR
GAMES in the light forests that bordered the
grasslands. I was a year older than Bruce, but we
were friends and buddies through grammar school
at St. John Brebeuf in Niles and Notre Dame HS for
Boys.
Ironically he went to Vietnam ahead of me and
served as an Army warrant officer helicopter pilot
with the 161st Aviation Company, which evolved
into the 123rd Aviation Bn of the 23rd Infantry
Division (Americal) by the time I arrived in 1970.
After many years we had a chance to meet and
laugh again at the reunion of his grammar school
class of 1961 from St. John Brebeuf (where I
CRASHED their party). And, then a year later I
met with Bruce and Barbara in May of 2002 for an
evening of reminiscence and laughter.
Condolences can be shared with his wife Barbara,
daughter Suzanne and sisters Nancy and Lisa by
sending them to the residence at: 2012 E
Peachtree, Arlington Heights, IL 60004.
RIP, "LILL Street buddy" Brian
PS: Bruce always had a hearty laugh and his
inclination towards a joke, a gag or a prank was
always a "short slide." I attached a story that
HE WROTE about a pet monkey, George, that was
part of his aviation company in Vietnam during
1967-68. Read it and draw your own conclusion
about the mini-primate's unleashing.
From: Brian J. Mulcrone, Wheeling, IL