VVA’s goals are to promote and support the full range of issues important to Vietnam veterans, to create a new identity for this generation of veterans, and to change public perception of Vietnam veterans. VVA strives to achieve the following:
- Aggressively advocate on issues important to veterans
- Seek full access to quality health care for veterans
- Identify the full range of disabling injuries and illnesses incurred during military service
- Hold government agencies accountable for following laws mandating veterans health care
- Create a positive public perception of Vietnam veterans
- Seek the fullest possible accounting of America’s POWs and MIAs
- Support the next generation of America’s war veterans
- Serve our communities
Chapter 862 Officers
President | Larry Googins | ljgoogins.vva862@comcast.net |
Executive VP | Corkey Romeo | corkeyr@email.com |
First VP | Ron Heitzenrater | heitzkr@gmail.com |
Second VP | Gary Shaffer | bfairforce1963@gmail.com |
Secretary | Tom O’Neill | tgoqv68@aol.com |
Treasurer | Jake Barsottini | jbarsottini@gmail.com |
Chapter 862 Board of Directors
Rich Heitzenrater – bonheitz@comcast.net
Ron Ippolito – theduke748@comcast.net
Rich Kamzelski – richkamm@hotmail.com
Ray Litzinger – raymondalglitz@gmail.com
Al Martin – cyclops_al@hotmail.com
Ross Prinkey – toolguy522002@yahoo.com
Bill Russo – billjrusso@aim.com
Don Villella – sgmdmvret@comcast.net
Bob Weismantle – weismantle908@comcast.net
Chapter 862 Standing Committees
Community Services | Rich Kamzelski 724-494-5752 |
Finance | Corkey Romeo 724-774-4711 |
Government Affairs | Bart Farzati 724-777-2193 |
Membership Affairs | Gary Shaffer 724-643-8941 |
Minority Affairs | Bill Russo 412-916-5609 |
POW/MIA | Ron Heitzenrater 724-452-7483 |
PTSD & Substance Abuse | Ron Heitzenrater 724-452-7483 |
Veterans Affairs | Carl Curtis 724-561-3268 |
Veteran Benefits | Carl Curtis 724-561-3268 |
Veteran Healthcare | Bart Farzati 724-777-2193 |
Veterans in the Justice System | Larry Googins 724-869-7090 |
Women Veterans | Michelle Wilcox 724-847 3463 |
Chapter 862 Special Committees
Constitution & By-Laws | Al Martin 412-671-6314 |
Gold Star Families | Bill Russo 412-916-5609 |
Highway Cleanup | Charles Ray 724-513-7804 |
Homeless Veterans | “OPEN” |
Hospitalized Veterans | Michelle Wilcox 724-847-3463 |
Exchange Store | Ross Prinkey 412-720-6347 |
Scholarship | Lon Hogue 724-846-8857 |
Suicide Prevention | Ron Heitzenrater 724-452-7483 |
Vietnam Memorial Bricks | Ron Ippolito 724-869-5234 |
Veteran Assistance | Carl Curtis 724-561-3268 |
Veteran Memorial | Rich Kamzelski 724-494-5752 |
Election | Lon Hogue 724-846-8857 |
Chapter 862 Honor/Color Guard
Commander | Bob Weismantle – 724-869-4942 (H), 724-900-5628 (C) |
Assistant Commander | Ray Litzinger- 724-378-5855 (H), 412-974-9192 (C) |

Chapter 862 PA State Council Delegates
Jake Barsottini
Jim Brinker
Larry Googins
Rich Heitzenrater
Ron Heitzenrater
Rich Kamzelski
Ray Litzinger
Dave Marchetti
Tom O”Neill
Dick Pegg
Rich Raich
Bill Russo
Gary Shaffer
John Szatkiewicz
Bob Weismantle
Michelle Wilcox
VVA Chapter 862 Charter Members
Lloyd “Skip” Haswell | Ron Patterson (Dec) | Tony Yannachione | William J McCartney |
William Laughner (Dec) | Frank “Lee” Corfield | Gerald C. Fisher | Roy J. Barlett |
Barry S. Campbell | William Bischak (Dec) | Nick Pavkovich (Dec) | Robert Eiler |
John Papasodero | Donald T. Wolfe | Tracey A. King | Wilmer “Blaine” Allinder Jr. (Dec) |
Anthony R. Squadrito | William T. Muns | William Winkle | Daniel M. Brynczak |
JoAnna W. Williamson | Michael A. Mikulich | William L. Weiss | Charles E. Smith Jr. |
George Haught | Don E. Pickering | Ronald J. DeSalle | F. James Crytzer |
David Sonnett (Dec) | Peter A. Petrosky (Dec) | Steve Gavura | Thomas E. Harper (Dec) |
Ken Melesky | Aaron R. Johnson | Robert D. Doughty (Dec) | Cameron Adamson |
Danny L. Lipscomb Sr. | James Patrick Montgomery | Jim Patton | George A. Caffro (Dec) |
Don Villella | Ralph A. Hague | Steve Stramella – Dec) | Raymond L. Kosto |
Chuck Bedison | James A. Yeager | Larry R. Phillips | Gary B. Shaffer |
John Namath (Dec) | John Helbling (Dec) | Richard Baker (Dec) | George R. Willy |
Alex De La Cruz (Dec) | William D. Beck | William Harlow | David Bollman |
Reuben J. Fuller | Jon Neely (Dec) | Harold Gallagher | Anthony Pietrandrea |