The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Donald Eugene Love (MCSN: 0-89672), 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 the ground troops used to identify their position, 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 ordnance deliver repulsed the hostile attack. Resuming control of the air strikes after refueling his aircraft, Captain Love was directing the employment of 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 demonstrated exceptional courage and resolute determination as he unhesitatingly 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 by fixed-wing aircraft and gunships 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. By his outstanding aeronautical skill, courageous leadership and selfless devotion to duty at great personal risk, Captain Love was instrumental in the accomplishment of the hazardous mission and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.