A Letter to Echo Recon by “Degree” (Jerry Trumm)
Dated: 1900 hrs, June 20, 1970
Hi Men!
I don’t know who gets this, it doesn’t matter because it is for all of you.As you probably know the slug broke me up pretty good and I am going home. I am not sorry for that. I sure will be good to get home, but I feel guilty because I was out in the filed only 11 days and some of you have been out for 300 days and I get home before them.
I know one thing. I’m proud to have served with your gang. I learned a lot of things (that college didn’t teach me) and I learned to appreciate life very much more. I’m certain that if I had to stay in country that I would absolutely insist on being sent out to 1st/5th Recon!
I made a lot of friends with you and will always remember all of you.
I hope by the time you get this you are out of Cambodia for GOOD! I want all of you to keep your heads low. All my wishes and prayers will be with you. 1st/5th Recon is a great Bunch of Guys.
-Jerry Trumm (Degree)
Ed Hutchins saved the letter which was read at the 30 year Echo Recon Reunion in Indianapolis (April, 2000)