Father's legacy is well worth noting

Dear editor,

My name is Angela Ford, and I live in California. Several years ago, my father, Air Force Master Sgt. Wilbur Jeffrey, moved from California and made Mountain Home his forever home.

He says he loves it there and will never leave again. I recently visited him and see how truly happy he is there.

The reason I am writing you is because sometimes heroes stay unnoticed until they die.

I was going through some pictures and newspaper clippings the other day which profile my father as a contender for the 1972 Olympics and 1978 Pan Am Games.

He was awarded the U.S. Air Force distinguished pistol shot badge for his superior shooting and marksmanship ability. He was responsible for starting numerous pistol teams while stationed in Germany and the United States.

In 1969, he won the all Air Force 22 caliber championships and was AFLC champ in both 1968 and 1969.

In 1972, he was presented the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating as a flight engineer in an extremely hazardous mission from Da Nang airfield republic of Vietnam.

I share this with you because on my last visit, I asked my father if anyone was familiar with him and his military and shooting background. His response to me was "people don't care about that anymore."

I think the people still do care. I am wondering if you ever profile any veterans in your community. If you do and are interested in some pictures and newspaper clippings, I would love to share them with you.

My dad is currently 85 years old. I firmly believe that it is better to recognize people for their accomplishments while they are still on this Earth rather then when they leave us.

I am sure there are many other veterans just like him in the community who go unnoticed. Perhaps a short story will show all of them that they are heard, seen and appreciated.

I will look forward to hearing back from you on your thoughts.

— Angela Ford, Grass Valley, Calif.

This letter is being reprinted, with permission from Jeffrey's family, to ensure his name was included. The newspaper profiles veterans like this each year in its annual Veterans Day supplement.