Vietnam valor deserves thank you

To the editor:
Last month marked the 40th anniversary of the end of the United States’ involvement in the Vietnam Conflict.
For our family, the anniversary is a thankful reminder of the return of son, brother, nephew and cousin Donald E. Love from the Vietnam Conflict, and his presence with us still today.
Donald Love, the son of Gale and Nilah Love, began life in Jay County before moving with his parents and sister Carol to his grandparents’ farm north of Shideler on Indiana 3 in Delaware County.
Don is a 1959 graduate of Eaton High School and Purdue University. He and his wife Elaine celebrated 50 years of marriage in 2014. They have one daughter and two sons who, as their parents, currently all reside in areas of California. 
The significant reason for this letter is to share Don’s heroics, as detailed by Military Times:
“The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Donald Eugene Love, United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with the O-1 Detachment, Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron SIXTEEN, Marine Aircraft Group Sixteen, FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with military operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam.
“Late on the evening of 25 December 1967, Captain Love launched as the Tactical Air Controller (Airborne) assigned to direct a fixed-wing aircraft attack against an estimated 100-man North Vietnamese Army force attempting to overrun a Marine reconnaissance patrol eight miles northwest of Con Thien. Arriving over the area, he found that a heavy overcast, which lowered the ceiling to 1,700 feet, and the hazardous mountain terrain with peaks in the area reaching 2,500 feet severely limited the area of aircraft maneuverability and presented marginal operational conditions.
“Utilizing the illumination of a single strobe light … Captain Love exhibited exceptional aeronautical skill and completely disregarded his own safety as he maneuvered his aircraft through the darkness. Turning on his exterior lights to guide the strike aircraft, he flew at low altitude over the hostile positions to mark the target for the A-4 Phantom aircraft making the attacks.
“Undaunted by the heavy volume of North Vietnamese small arms and automatic weapons fire delivered against his aircraft, he repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire as he carefully adjusted each successive bombing run closer to the Marine perimeter until the bombs were exploding within thirty meters of the friendly troops. His extremely accurate direction of ordinance delivery repulsed the hostile attack. …
“Captain Love was directing … supporting aircraft when enemy ground fire struck and severely disabled his aircraft. Forced to accept temporary relief on station by another aircraft in order to return to his base for repairs, Captain Love was en route to Quang Tri when he learned that the relief aircraft had crashed.
“Despite the limitations imposed by his damaged aircraft, Captain Love … returned to the battle area to resume control of the air strikes and direct ground troops to the crash site. Upon the arrival of transport helicopters and gunships, he displayed superior airmanship and composure as he maneuvered his aircraft through the intense enemy fire while coordinating and directing the ground troops and transport helicopters to the crash site.
“Effectively coordinating the strikes … against North Vietnamese positions, he suppressed enemy fire sufficiently to enable the helicopters to land, embark the beleaguered Marines and expeditiously depart the area. Due largely to his bold and fearless actions during thirteen hours of sustained flight, he undoubtedly saved many of his fellow Marines from injury, capture or possible death.”
On December 25, 1967, our extended family of grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and his parents and sister were celebrating Christmas with a bountiful meal, presents, peace and goodwill, unaware that Don was battling not only to save his own life but those of fellow comrades in arms. 
Really, 40 years is way too long to extend a thank you to a Vietnam Veteran for service rendered on behalf of the United States of America.
Thankfully it is not too late to thank you Captain Donald Eugene Love, my cousin, for your service in the Vietnam Conflict.
Sharon Taylor
Redkey