Degree

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)