By Marlee Jackson

Humble heroes are sprinkled across Alabama’s farm community. These men and women have answered dual calls of duty, serving their country first through the Armed Forces and then on their farms back home.

Included in those ranks are Robert Luker, Charlie Loveless and Cameron Ellison, who served in diverse locations with unique missions during distinct eras in American history.

As the U.S. marks Veterans Day Nov. 11, these veterans represent countless Alabamians willing to be on the front lines for farm and freedom. Their stories are filled with honor, humor, humility and a heap of courage. 

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Robert Luker | Talladega County

At 97 years old, Robert Luker still calls the Talladega County row crop farm where he was raised “home.” It’s also where he returned following service in the Philippines during World War II.

Luker was drafted in 1945, the year enemy Axis powers collapsed. He was a junior in high school.

“We were originally assigned to go to the island of Leyte and take advance training for the invasion of Japan that was scheduled for that fall,” recalled Luker. “They dropped the (atomic) bomb, and the Japanese surrendered Aug. 14. That’s what saved our lives.”

Luker was a corporal in the 13th Air Force, nicknamed “The Jungle Air Force” for its location in the tropics. Initially a motor pool dispatcher, he became a crew chief performing maintenance and pre-flight operations on two P-51 fighter-bomber planes.

“When I went down to the air strip and reported to the officer, I told him I hadn’t been to airplane mechanic school,” Luker remembered. “He said, ‘Well, that guy next to you will show you.’”

He came home more than a year after the surrender. 

Luker said in many ways, life returned to pre-war rhythms. He graduated high school, married his wife, Dorothy, and grew the farm. In 1969, they purchased their first tractor — a John Deere 4010 that was a far cry from the mules of Luker’s childhood.

Luker and his son, Bob, still own the ’62 model. It’s a pride and joy they hope to pass on to Bob’s children, Lauren and Cohen, who shares a name with Luker’s older brother and fellow WWII veteran.

For decades, Luker has shared stories of the war and the Great Depression with his family. Those experiences color his grateful take on life.

“I endured it all and came out kicking,” he said. “I’m glad I lived this long.”

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Charlie Loveless | Calhoun County

Charlie Loveless was preparing to graduate from Jacksonville State University when he visited the U.S. Air Force recruiting office in Anniston.

“You have a college education?” the recruiter asked Loveless, a math major fascinated by physics. “Do you want to be a pilot?”

Loveless thought, “Why not?”

The 22 year old had never flown. At 6’1”, long and lean Loveless squeaked by the seated height requirement for pilots and was quickly at ease, quietly building confidence in the cockpit.

That was 1970. Twenty years later, Loveless retired as a lieutenant colonel with 4,500 flight hours earned in various aircraft.

He’s partial, though, to the F-15, which he said was designed with pilots’ needs in mind — every gauge, instrument and display perfectly in sight. That’s important to a fighter pilot who trained during the Vietnam War and later against Soviet tactics.

“When you’re doing the mission, flying the airplane is almost automatic,” said Loveless, 77. “It’s a fluid situation. Things change from second to second.”

For Loveless and his wife, Linda, the Air Force was a family affair. Linda said when her husband was on assignment, squadron wives would rally around her and their son, Nathan, offering community no matter where they were stationed.

“I loved it,” Linda said. “If we were younger, I’d go back today. I was always proud to say I was his wife when we were in the Air Force. I say ‘we’ because I feel like I was, too.”

They eventually returned to Calhoun County, making their home in Wellington. Thanks to the GI Bill, Loveless earned another degree and worked off the farm while tending their cattle and hay operation.

“Flying is the ultimate freedom,” he said. “So is being in the great outdoors.”

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Cameron Ellison | Chilton County

In 2003, Cameron Ellison saw U.S. Marines invade Iraq — intense TV coverage leaving its mark on the patriotic teen from Chilton County. He enlisted four years later, serving in the Marine Corps infantry.

“It doesn’t matter what battle you’re fighting, the last 100 yards belong to the infantry,” said Ellison, 35. “They’re walking through the objective and finishing the job. To me, that was exciting.”

Ellison turned 19 at boot camp and 20 on a ship in the Pacific. Twenty-one and 22 followed in Afghanistan. He first served as a SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon) gunner before becoming a squad leader during deployments that strengthened bonds with fellow Marines.

Ellison is matter of fact as he thumbs through a photo album chronicling his service, describing shots that ranged from practical jokes to kill downtime to images of enemy explosives mounded on desert sand.

Overseas, his mind was on the mission. But he was also planning for his future.

“I remember sitting on a roof (in Afghanistan) with our lieutenant, and he asked if I was going to reenlist,” said Ellison, a sergeant. “I had considered it, but I said, ‘No, I’m going home to farm.’”

Ellison’s enlistment ended in April 2012, followed by four years in the Reserve. He’s since farmed cattle and row crops while running his family’s used car business in Jemison. He’s also raising daughters Annie Jane, 3, and Mary Alice, 1, with wife Natalie.

Ellison admits his tours of duty had tough times, though he also had incredible experiences, such as swimming in the Dead Sea and standing on Mt. Nebo where Moses died.

“By the time I was 22, I had been around the world three times and seen upwards of 20 countries,” he said. “You get paid to see the world and serve your country at the same time. Like Ronald Reagan said, ‘Freedom is only one generation from being gone.’”