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
862 Officers
President | Larry Googins | ljgoogins.vva862@comcast.net |
Executive VP | Corkey Romeo | corkeyr@email.com |
First VP | Ron Heitzenrater | ronheitzen@gmail.com |
Second VP | Gary Shaffer | bfairforce@gmail.com |
Secretary | Michelle Wilcox | doc8416@comcast.net |
Treasurer | Jake Barsottini | jbarsottini@gmail.com |
862 Board of Directors ( ) Yrs to Serve
Ron Ippolito (3) – theduke748@comcast.net
Ray Litzinger (3) – raymondalglitz@gmail.com
Rich Tindell (3) – shortrnd@hotmail.com
Lee Corfield (2) – n3ial@comcast.net
Rich Kamzelski (2) – richkamm@hotmail.com
Bill Russo (2) – billjrusso@aim.com
Bob Horner (1) – bobhorn46@yahoo.com
Al Martin (1) – cyclops_al@hotmail.com
Don Villella (1) – sgmdmvret@comcast.net
862 Standing Committees
Agent Orange/Dioxin | Mike Coligure |
Community Services | Rich Kamzelski |
Finance | Corkey Romeo |
Government Affairs | Bart Farzati |
Membership Affairs | Gary Shaffer |
Minority Affairs | Linwood Alford |
POW/MIA | Bart Farzati |
PTSD & Substance Abuse | Michelle Wilcox |
Public Affairs | Dick Pegg |
Veteran Benefits | Kathy Nairn (Advisor) |
Veteran Healthcare | Carl Curtis |
Veterans in the Justice System | Ken Pingatore |
Women Veterans | Michelle Wilcox |
862 Special Committees
Election | Lon Hogue |
Gold Star Families | Michelle Wilcox |
Highway Cleanup | Charles Ray |
Homeless Veterans | Bill Porupsky |
Hospitalized Veterans | Michelle Wilcox |
Newsletter | Susan Fudurich |
Exchange Store | Ross Prinkey |
Scholarship | Lon Hogue |
Veteran Assistance | Carl Curtis |
Veteran Memorial | Rich Tindell |
Memorial Bricks | Ron Heitzenrater |
Website | Lee Corfield |
862 Honor/Color Guard
Commander | Bob Weismantle – Home – 724-869-4942 or Cell – 724-900-5628 |
Assistant Commander | Lee Corfield – Home – 724-775-3027 or Cell – 412-974-8586 |
Assistant Commander | Ray Litzinger- Home – 724-378-5855 or Cell – 412-974-9192 |
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 | 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 | William D. Beck | William Harlow | David Bollman |
Reuben J. Fuller | Jon Neely (Dec) | Harold Gallagher | Anthony Pietrandrea |

VVA 862 PA State Delegates
Jake Barsottini
Ed Blank – Alt
Lee Corfield
Larry Googins
Skip Haskell
Ron Heitzenrater
Pete Herman
Rich Kamzelski
Ray Litzinger – Alt
Dave Marchetti – Alt
Rich Pegg
Rich Raich
Ray Rapp
Corkey Romeo
Bill Russo
Gary Shaffer
John Szatkiewicz
Dave Walker
Bob Weismantle
Michelle Wilcox