Born in Philadelphia into a family of military veterans, Gregory Spain decided at the age of eight that he wanted to be a United States Marine. At 17, he got hismother’s permission to enlist and ended up in Viet Nam, one of thousands of patriotic young men who learned quickly this wasn’t their fathers’ war.

Five decades after a sniper’s bullet ended his tour, Sergeant Spain will join three other Viet Nam-era veterans now living on the Vineyard to reflect on the war, the tumultuous events surrounding it and their reactions to a recent documentary series on a conflict that helped define a generation. The discussion will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 14, as part of the Gazette’s Tuesdays in the Newsroom series.

Other veterans who will take part in the discussion are James Bishop, also a combat Marine; William Stafursky, who served in the Army military police; and Tom Bennett, a U.S. Air Force medic. Mr. Bennett, a social workers and senior counselor at Martha’s Vineyard Community Services, has run a support group for veterans for decades. Mr. Stafursky is the veterans outreach coordinator.

The panel discussion comes on the heels of Veterans Day and the airing on public television of the Vietnam War, a 10-part documentary series by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick. The series, which includes stunning film footage and testimony from North Vietnamese, South Vietnamese and American combatants, civilians and policy makers, traces the arc of the 20-year war from White House to the trenches and explores the role of race and the rise of anti-war activism.

Tuesdays in the Newsroom events are held every second Tuesday of the month in the newsroom of the Gazette at 34 South Summer street in Edgartown. Doors open at 5:15 p.m. for light refreshments, followed by the program. The event ends by 7 p.m.

The event is free, but advance registration is required at newsroom.bpt.me.