News Photo by Darby Hinkley Vietnam Veteran Joseph Szatkowski points to a photo of him during the Vietnam War while holding a photo album containing many pictures of himself and other veterans he meets with at reunions held across the country. He served in the U.S. Army.

ALPENA — Today is National Vietnam War Veterans Day, a time to honor the great service and sacrifice given by so many who served during that time.

March 29 was designated as a day to recognize specifically the veterans who served during the Vietnam War, which took place from February 1961 to May 1975. Made official through the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017 and signed into law by then-President Donald Trump, March 29 was selected as the date because it represents the day the last combat troops were withdrawn from Vietnam, and the last prisoners of war held in North Vietnam arrived home to the U.S., according to the Veterans of Foreign Wars website, vfw.org.

More than 3.4 million Americans served in support of U.S military operations in Vietnam and Southeast Asia; more than 58,000 gave their lives and nearly 1,580 service men remain unaccounted for, according to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.

“On National Vietnam War Veterans Day, we honor and remember our Vietnam veterans for their sense of duty, unselfish devotion and courageous willingness to put their country first,” a statement on vfw.org reads. “It is because of their service and tenacity that VFW senior leaders continue the VFW’s annual tradition of traveling to Vietnam in support of U.S. government efforts to account for those still missing and unaccounted for, in hopes of finally bringing them home.”

In Alpena, two Vietnam veterans talked about their experiences before, during, and after the war.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Vietnam Veteran Thomas Burton, of Alpena, holds up a photo of himself taken while he was serving as a U.S. Marine during the Vietnam War.

Thomas Burton entered the service voluntarily, in the United States Marine Corps. He served from 1968 to 1970 with the engineers.

“It’s an honor to serve your country,” said Burton. “Especially under extreme conditions. No war is, exactly, a beautiful thing, but if you have to go and serve, that’s what you do.”

Burton, who many know by his middle name, Jerry, was a few years older than many of the men he served with.

“I was older than a lot of guys — I was 25 years old,” said Burton, now 77. “In our platoon, there were only, I think, three of us. The rest of them were 18 years old and just coming from home.”

He said while others were being drafted, he felt it was his duty to enter the military.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Joseph Szatkowski stands among photos and memorabilia from the Vietnam War, where he served in the U.S. Army.

“When the Vietnam War started, a lot of us just wanted to serve,” Burton said.

While serving in Vietnam, Burton was wounded by shrap metal and was medevacked to Japan for surgery to remove as much shrap metal as they could from his right arm and both legs.

“They airlifted us from Cam Ranh Bay to Yokosuka, Japan,” he said.

His injuries did not deter him from continuing his tour of duty.

“I signed up to go back,” Burton said. “I could have just come home, but I wanted to go back. Before they would release you, you would have to go to casualty company. As soon as you were better and healed up, they would fly you back.”

News Photo by Darby Hinkley A display case holds Vietnam Veteran Joseph Szatkowski's medals and ribbons earned during his time in the service.

He corresponded by letters with his wife back home during his tour of duty.

“You miss a lot of things, you know?” he said.

He said he learned a lot during the war, being surrounded by the loss of life and all the wounded soldiers. He also became very close with the men with whom he served.

“They’re like family,” Burton said.

Veteran Joseph L. Szatkowski was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1968 during the Vietnam War after just turning 20, three months after becoming a father.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley A young Thomas Burton is seen in Vietnam in this photo atop his U.S. Marine Corps recruitment book from 1968.

“I got my orders for Fort Polk, Louisiana,” he said. “They have mock villages set up there, just like in Vietnam, and that’s how they train you. Of course, I knew I was going infantry, because I was always good at shooting. I hunted deer. I was a prime candidate.”

He said he went in “pretty green.”

“I didn’t know what we were in for,” he said. “Well, I found out, in a hurry.”

He got into Vietnam on Jan. 18, 1969.

“By April, I had been wounded already, the first time,” Szatkowski said. “I thought I was going home … but it wasn’t bad enough. I’ve still got shrap metal in my leg from it.”

News Photo by Darby Hinkley The United States Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island, South Carolina is seen on the pages of Thomas Burton's recruitment book from 1968.

The second time he was wounded, he almost died.

“We got mortared one night,” he recalled. “We had rockets come in. It was December 23rd, two days before Christmas. I was writing a letter home. I was in a tent.”

That’s when the siren went off. It was still daylight.

“I took off, running,” he said. “Well, by the time I got out the door, I’m running, and the next thing I remember, somebody was standing over me, mumbling. The concussion, it just knocked me silly … you remember parts.”

They were bandaging and putting pressure on his neck, because he had been wounded just about a quarter-inch from his jugular. He also had internal injuries, so they had to open him up. He has a large scar down his torso, and one on his neck.

“When I woke up, I was so happy to be alive,” he said.

After those injuries, he was sent home to the U.S. with an honorable discharge. He earned many medals.

He saw a lot of traumatic things at war, and he said it’s hard to explain to someone who hasn’t been through it.

“I have a reunion, every two years, and I try to go to every one of them,” Szatkowski said.

He remains friends with those who served with him. He visits and travels with several of his fellow veterans regularly.

“It’s fun to see these guys again, because we have so much in common,” Szatkowski said. “We’re kind of like the band of brothers. You help each other out to try to stay alive, and do what you have to do.”

Alpena-based Hospice Compassus does intentional work to honor veterans in the communities they serve. Compassus is partnering with local veteran-owned business North Country Candy and Gifts and Hubbard Lake Coffee Bar to honor those who served during the Vietnam War era. Vietnam veterans are invited to come to the shop at 1045 N. Bagley St. for a free coffee drink from 8 a.m. to noon today.

North Country owner Claire LaFleur served active duty in the U.S. National Guard from 2000 to 2022. She said having a special day to honor the Vietnam Veterans is important, because they deserve recognition for their service.

“I approached Claire to see if we could have a veteran-owned business who would partner,” said Rev. Giovanna Meek, veteran of the U.S. Navy and currently a chaplain with Hospice Compassus.

“It’s our duty as a nation and as individuals to recognize the service of Vietnam veterans. After brutal and complex experiences at war, they weren’t appreciated by our country,” Meek said of the war wounds that so many veterans carry. “Most Vietnam veterans are dealing with some effect of the war and the way our country dishonored them. Too many of them have hidden wounds, including PTSD, moral injury. They often suffer alone.”

As a veteran herself, Meek is passionate about wanting veterans to know they do not have to suffer alone.

Meek said that every veteran event also reminds the public that there are people who continue to serve.

“They do this for the greater good, beyond ‘the self,’ to defend our country,” Meek said. “We still have many people, today, who are willing to stand up and say, ‘Yes, I believe in our nation. I believe in the Constitutional values that founded our nation. I desire to serve in the military so that our nation may stand as a beacon of hope, values, and freedom in this world.’ These are the women and men who join the military.”

Contact Meek at Hospice Compassus, 989-278-2658.