Dear Editor:
We, the family of James W. Ervin, wish to express our deepest
appreciation to reporter Jodi Engle for her recent (May 28)
article,
”
We were soldiers once … and young.
”
Dear Editor:
We, the family of James W. Ervin, wish to express our deepest appreciation to reporter Jodi Engle for her recent (May 28) article, “We were soldiers once … and young.”
She did an excellent job of research, interviews, and taking the time to maker a personal evening visit to meet at the home family members. Engle dedicated a great deal of time and effort to gain factual accuracy of events in the life of our solder.
She read the 1993 book “We were soldiers. once … and young,” to gather history and vital information of the North Vietnam Ia Drang Campaign of 1965; and also contacted a soldier now living in Ohio, who survived that major battle and could give his detailed, eyewitness account that Nov. 17, 1965.
His personal recollection provided us further insight into the death of Sgt. Ervin. Engle’s article was thoroughly researched with information that put a “face” on death during wartime that steals from us the lives of loved ones. Her strong writing recaptured the ’60s and a Vietnam conflict so far away and long ago.
Jodi Engle used all the historical information she obtained. And for this article, The Dispatch printed the last picture of Sgt. Ervin taken just before he was deployed to Vietnam. Seeing it and the reading her well-written article filled our hearts once again with pride for the dedication of all our military personnel.
Thanks you Jodi Engle for your professional reporting, patience, and gentle manner. The Dispatch and this community are the better because of you.
We wish you a long and rewarding career in journalism writing.
Edna Marrujo, Phyllis Armenta and Elaine Bertero Pittroff
Submitted Friday, June 4 to ed****@****ic.com
