Al Ludetke and Ed Manns both grew up in New Jersey, served in the Army during the Vietnam War, and both ended up living in the Jim Thorpe area.

But despite the similarities in their lives, they didn’t meet until Thursday morning, at a coffee hour for Vietnam veterans.

“We don’t know everybody, but we’re all brothers,” said Manns, of Penn Forest Township.

The organization Together with Veterans NEPA holds “coffee and camaraderie” for Vietnam veterans monthly, at unique locations around the county. On Thursday, a few dozen veterans drank coffee and ate doughnuts at the Carbon County Environmental Education Center. Some took a walk down the boardwalk to look at the hawks and eagles that live at the center.

During the events there’s no meeting agenda or schedule, just coffee and conversation.

While many of the veterans are meeting each other for the first time, they have a lot to talk about.

They can talk with people who had similar experiences about where and when they served - whether it was I Corps in the northern provinces, or IV corps near the Mekong Delta. Some might have unknowingly crossed paths during their service.

“The camaraderie is good. You’re among other veterans that served in Vietnam and know what it was,” said Richard Pogwist, an Army veteran from Lansford.

There are hundreds of Vietnam veterans living in Carbon County. In March over 200 of them gathered for a dinner in Lehighton. Based on feedback from that event, Carbon County Director of Veterans Affairs Christine LeClair came up with the idea for a regular event where the veterans could get together.

“There are a lot of new faces, and a lot of the same faces. It’s been great,” LeClair said.

The veterans were all in their 20s when they served bravely. They’re now in their 70s and 80s, but their service is still very much a part of them.

Getting together reminds them that they are not alone in carrying the physical and emotional effects of their service.

“The brotherhood, that’s why you come to these meetings,” said Vern Arndt, a Marine veteran who lives in Penn Forest Township.

Many Vietnam veterans deal with chronic health issues from their time in the service, whether they were wounded or exposed to chemicals such as Agent Orange. They all have to navigate the VA benefits system, and they can advise each other on how to make sure they get the care they need.

They also support each other through the unseen effects of the war. During the pandemic, many support groups for veterans with PTSD shut down. Some still haven’t come back, like a group based at a VA site in Allentown that many local vets relied on.

George Kunkel, of Penn Forest Township, said when it comes to remembering those who were lost and wounded - and their loved ones - nothing replaces getting together with other veterans.

“The importance is getting together, and getting to know that we’re not alone,” Kunkle said.

Next month’s coffee and camaraderie will take place at Kennedy Park in Lansford on July 8, before the Large Flowerheads concert. To RSVP, contact Carbon County VA at 570-325-3986, or email cleclair@carboncounty.net.