South Philly Review

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Timothy Luko Jr. does not consider himself a hero, but the Pennsport community disagrees.

It greeted the 35-year-old with music and merrymaking to mark his return from a six-month stint in Afghanistan at the Satin Slipper New Years Brigade, 1444 S. Second St., Oct. 22. Well-versed in patrolling areas through his role as an International Security Assistance Force member, the technical sergeant inspected his family’s and friends’ faces and felt instant gratitude.

“Everyone went above and beyond to welcome me back,” the Wenonah, N.J. resident said Sunday from the fancy brigade’s headquarters.

In his military career, the native of the 100 block of Mercy Street has proven equally resolute, as he has devoted more than 13 years to defending his country. His tenure earned success from the appreciative crowd; melodic tributes from Fralinger String Band, 1903 S. Third St.; Quaker City String Band, 1943 S. Third St.; and the Second Street Irish Society Pipes and Drums, 1937 S. Third St.; and hugs and kisses from wife Rosemarie, 9-year-old daughter Dylan Rose, 7-year-old son Michael and 5-year-old son Timmy. Four years removed from calling South Philly home, he credits the area for his patriotism and infatuation with the Mummers.

“I always had a desire to serve,” Luko said, revealing he wanted to join the military upon graduating from the former St. John Neumann High School, 2600 Moore St.

After time at Community College of Philadelphia and Temple University, he graced the Air Force Reserves Command with his nationalism in February 1998. Exactly four years later, he received his first deployment, parting with Rosemarie and 2-month-old Dylan Rose, for the Arab emirate Qatar. The separation hurt and living conditions proved extreme, but he diligently performed his security duties. He returned in July 2002 and resumed domestic life, knowing another assignment might again alter his kin’s existence.

“We all make numerous sacrifices,” he said of military clans.

He continued his Air Force involvement until May ’07, the same month the Luko bunch’s move began to improve life for Michael, who battles autism. A period of debate on his service future led Luko to choose the Delaware Air National Guard in March ’09. He and 12 others, comprising the 166th Security Forces Squadron, learned in January of their mission to provide protection in Afghanistan’s Parwan Province, where they became on-site participants in Operation Enduring Freedom, the decade-old endeavor to eliminate the use of Afghanistan as a base for al-Qaida, the Sept. 11 attacks’ architect.

“I had much more serious preparation this time,” he said of training in Washington and Texas.

Luko cited increased fear about venturing into the South Asia republic, as being in a combat zone meant his unit faced active threats constantly. From its April arrival until last month’s departure, it endured indirect fire 40 times. The soldiers became his secondary relatives, with Bagram Airfield’s Wi-Fi allowing Luko to interact with his primary family.

The outfit knew its stay would end sometime in October, and though the members never neglected their defense duties, they grew a tad disheartened when an unforeseen delay kept them away until Oct. 21. While abroad, Luko strenghtened his already robust altruism.

“I had some knowledge of the area,” he said, “and I saw the Afghans as people needing help.”

An ’08 U.S. State Department estimation gauged the land’s literacy rate at 28 percent, and an ’09 U.N. Children’s Fund report deemed Afghanistan the world’s most dangerous place for a child to be born. As a father, Luko finds the latter haunting and wishes he could have removed some youths from their doldrums.

“The toughest decisions were those when we had to put our safety ahead of humanitarianism,” Luko, likely to achieve master sergeant status within the next year, said.

Aware of Americans’ vacillation on the warfare, he said he feels as adamant about upholding freedom as he did in the wake of last decade’s attacks.

“We’re all just doing our part,” he said. “We didn’t start this war.”

Though a huge help to liberty’s survival, he shuns exalting himself.

“I’m no hero,” he said. “The heroes are those who have passed and are not able to return to their homes.”