Thompson Veteran of the Month - July 2026
United States Army Specialist E-4 Donald A. Pepek of Quinebaug Road in North Grosvenordale, CT has been selected by the nominating committee to be recognized and honored as the July 2026 Veteran of the Month for the Town of Thompson.
Donald was born on May 18, 1947, to parents Beatrice and Chester, Sr. and lived his entire life in North Grosvenordale. He attended the Thompson Public School System from kindergarten through his sophomore year in high school. Donald is proud to say that he earned his GED later in life. Don began work after his high school years at various jobs before joining the service. In 1966, all males between the age of 18 and 26, by law, had to sign up with the Military Draft Board to register with the United States Selective Service System. You would be assigned a draft number determined by a lottery system chosen by your birthday month and day, from the lowest number 1 to the highest number 366. Depending on the Vietnam War needs at any given time, you were drafted into the service from the lowest draft number to the highest. Donald’s draft number was very low and he was about to be called by the draft for entry into the service, and an almost certain ticket to Vietnam. Knowing this, Donald decided to volunteer for the draft and joined the United States Army.
After completion of his Basic Training at Fort Jackson, Donald remained there for his Advanced Infantry Training, as a Large Transportation Vehicle driver. On July 12, 1967 Donald was assigned to his unit in Vietnam to begin a very long, dangerous and life changing 11 months. Specialist Pepek was initially assigned in Vietnam to Cam Ranh Bay for a short period of time and then re-assigned to Chulai ( the port of Thang Bay). During those two, 6-month assignments, Specialist Pepek was in constant danger, and always feared for his life during the transportation and distribution of ammunition dumps, projectiles and grenades. His platoon constantly encountered snipers, road mines, and dangerous events. There was always an on-going spray of agent orange in the air. This led to the burning and melting of skin, disease and rampart sickness. At the conclusion of this 6-month assignment in Cam Ranh Bay and Chulai, Specialist Pepek and his platoon were re-assigned to Duc Pho in the South of Vietnam as a night driver transporting supplies, goods and manpower from the Landing Ship Tanks. He recalls the constant awful sound 24 hours a day, 7 days a week of artillery shelling and grenades going off from all around his platoon. Again, in Duc Pho they encountered the ongoing mist. They knew that if they made it out alive, they would be subject to a lifetime of the lingering effects of agent orange. For Specialist Pepek, that has proven to be true as he has for years has suffered skin carcinoma caused by these caustic agents to this very day. He, and most of those Veterans in the Vietnam jungles, continue to suffer with lingering effects of PTSD (Post Traumatic Distress Disorder), a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a terrifying, life-threatening, or highly distressing event.
Specialist Pepek was one of the fortunate soldiers to survive and to return to the United States to have the opportunity begin a new chapter in his life. Specialist Pepek was discharged from his service time on September 19, 1968. For his service, Specialist E-4 Donald A. Pepek was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Commendation Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.
In 1969, Donald married Cheryl Durand, who has been his wife and caretaker for 56 years. Together, Donald and Cheryl have 2 daughters, 3 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. They enjoy a very busy family life .
Donald is a lifetime member of the VFW Post 10888 in Quinebaug, and a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans in the Norwich Chapter.
Specialist Donald A. Pepek will be presented with a commemorative plaque by the First Selectman and the Veterans Officer at the July 7, 2026 Board of Selectman meeting.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE FROM A VERY GRATEFUL COMMUNITY!