Veteran's Corner: Jerry Coker

COLFAX — Jerry Coker grew up in a small farming community in north Missouri, and like his wife, he explained that there were only a few opportunities there.

“Most of the kids went to college or stayed and got a job,” he said.

Mr. Coker noted that during the early 60s, college money was hard to get back then, and his parents had lived through the Depression and weren’t about to sign a loan for him to go to school.

“I waited until I was nineteen, and they wouldn’t have to sign for me and joined the Airforce much to my dad’s dismay,” he explained, noting that his dad had expected him to stay and...