Vietnam veteran Bonnie Gorman of Quincy stood up yesterday in Faneuil Hall and implored US Senator John F. Kerry to work to bring American troops home from Afghanistan.

“It has been 10 years of war . . . The military is exhausted,’’ said Gorman, 65, whose brother died in Vietnam, and whose nephew is serving in the military. “We want to see our troops out of Afghanistan. . . . Do it now.’’

Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he supports President Obama’s plan to begin bringing home troops in July, but cautioned that withdrawal may not be swift nor simple.

“I, too, want those troops home,’’ said Kerry, who said he will soon travel to Afghanistan. “I think we’re keeping faith in the effort to do due diligence, in order to really look carefully at how to extricate [troops] from Afghanistan.’’

The war in Afghanistan and the killing of Osama bin Laden by Navy SEALs in Pakistan dominated the town hall meeting held yesterday by the senator. The two-hour session drew about 250 people, including representatives of veterans, labor, and immigrant groups, and also touched on topics ranging from the conflict in the Sudan to closing corporate tax loopholes to the 2012 election.

John Church, 27, a Navy lieutenant stationed at the Naval War College in Rhode Island, happened upon the meeting while waiting to meet his mother at Faneuil Hall in Boston.

He welcomed the chance to ask Kerry about defense spending.

“I think it’s good that he’s holding something like this,’’ said Church, a Maine native and graduate of the US Naval Academy.

Asked how many troops should be withdrawn, Kerry declined to specify a number, saying, “I hope July will not be a token. I hope it is serious and clear.’’

Jim Pinkham of Norwell, representing the Plymouth and Bristol Central Labor Council, asked Kerry if the United States should impose sanctions against Pakistan, where bin Laden was hiding in a residential compound near a Pakistani Army base.

Kerry urged patience and caution. “We have to let the dust settle a bit,’’ said Kerry, who last week opened a hearing on US-Pakistan relations following bin Laden’s death.

“Pakistan is a complicated question. . . . Pakistan was helpful in providing information . . . as to where bin Laden was.’’

Earlier in the day, Kerry had attended a memorial service for Air Force Major David L. Brodeur, 34, of Auburn, one of eight servicemen gunned down last week by an Afghan military officer during a meeting at Kabul International Airport. “We’re all reminded of how fragile life is,’’ said Kerry, a Vietnam veteran.

The senator also paid tribute to the “extraordinary courage’’ shown by American servicemen who led the attack on bin Laden’s home in Pakistan.

“We’re proud of them and we say thank you,’’ Kerry said.

Kathy McCabe can be reached at kmccabe@globe.com.

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