Howard Pfeifer: Where the Action Was

Howard Pfeifer, US Merchant Marines

Howard Pfeifer wanted to be on deck, where the action was. At age 19 during WW II, Howard left Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to serve as a Quartermaster with the United States Merchant Marine Service. 

Sailing around the world in vulnerable convoys, he brought vital supplies, ammunition, and troops to the war fronts--including a trip to Iraq that resupplied the Soviet Red Army.  

Often overlooked by veteran memorials, the United States Merchant Marine Service has been involved in every major war since the Revolution. During WW II, the Merchant Marines suffered the highest rate of casualties of any service; 1 out of every 24 mariners never made it home.

Recorded on January 27, 2012 by the Veteran Voices of Pittsburgh initiative at the Father Ryan Arts Center in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania. Music: "The View Outside My Window," by Brandyn Anderson (http://soundcloud.com/brandynanderson/).

This audio is preserved at the Internet Archive.  © Veteran Voices of Pittsburgh. Creative Commons. Non-commercial. No derivative works.

New Veteran Story from StoryCorps

“I've never seen you turn anybody away.”

Paul Crowley and Anthony Bravo Esparza

Many veterans seek out the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Hospital in hopes of feeling better. Thanks to Anthony Bravo Esparza (R) — known to his friends as “Dreamer” — those veterans often end up looking better, too.

Since the 1970s, Dreamer, a veteran himself, has been giving free haircuts to vets.  He can be found in a red, white, and blue painted trailer parked at the VA, where he averages about 200 haircuts a month.  At StoryCorps, the pair sat down to speak about their friendship.

To read more and to listen to Paul and Anthony talk about their friendship, click here.

Please support StoryCorps!

Photographer Andy Marchese Joins VVoP Team

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ACCLAIMED PHOTOGRAPHER ANDY MARCHESE LENDS TALENT

TO VETERAN VOICES OF PITTSBURGH ORAL HISTORY PROJECT   

PITTSBURGH, PA – February 23, 2012 – Professional photographer Andy Marchese of Pittsburgh has become that latest creative artist to join forces with the Veteran Voices of Pittsburgh^® transmedia oral history project.  VVoP is a nonprofit educational initiative jointly created by The Social Voice Project, The Veterans Breakfast Club, and StartPoint Media, Inc.—three local organizations focusing on veterans.  Veteran Voices of Pittsburgh is dedicated to capturing, preserving, and sharing the experiences of Pittsburgh area veterans of all branches of service and eras, including peace and war-time service.   

“We’re pleased to have Andy Marchese on board with us as an associate photographer,” said Todd DePastino, historian and founding partner of VVoP. “Andy’s visual artistry and expertise in portraiture will greatly enhance our goal of creatively showcasing veterans’ stories using various media, including still photography.”  

A native of Pittsburgh’s North Hills area, Mr. Marchese is a marketing professional, photo editor, and owner of Andy Marchese Photography, which specializes in editorial and commercial photography with a focus in sports photography.  Some of his clients include Gateway Newspapers, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Johnstown Tribune Democrat, Duke University, University of Nebraska, and North Dakota State University. 

“Along with using high definition photography as an important archival tool to document our interviews and the historic memorabilia veterans want to share with us, I’m always looking for a story to tell with my camera,” said Mr. Marchese.  “The right gesture, glance of an eye, or fold of the hands can reveal a lot about what someone is feeling and thinking. A well crafted portrait can be a story within a story. That’s part of our innovative transmedia approach.”   

The Veteran Voices of Pittsburgh project uses high definition technology, formatting, and techniques to enhance oral histories. “We want to enrich the oral history experience, inspire the imagination, and warm the heart. High quality design, direction, and multimedia are essential for us,” says Chris Rolinson, co-partner of VVoP, award winning photographer, videographer, and owner of StartPoint Media. “Unlike most oral history projects, our interviews are presented in dedicated audiographic, videographic, photographic, and written media.  Each genre yields a different experience, and the different media make the interviews accessible through a variety of platforms, including websites, social media, mobile devices, and print.  We want these veterans’ stories to be widely accessible, not hidden away in an obscure archive.” 

The Veteran Voices of Pittsburgh initiative is a lasting way to thank all veterans for their service.  To donate or become a corporate/individual sponsor, please contact Kevin Farkas.  Your generous support is tax deductible as allowed by law.  Volunteers are also needed to help preserve and share these stories as part of our American heritage.  

CONTACT: Kevin Farkas, media representative
Veteran Voices of Pittsburgh^®
412.423.8034 | VeteranVoicesofPgh@gmail.com
http://VeteranVoicesofPittsburgh.blogspot.com/

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Walter Robinson American Legion Post 450

Post 450 was Sewickley's hotspot for big band era entertainment.

The Veteran Voices of Pittsburgh multimedia oral history initiative will soon begin recording and preserving the voices and stories of Sewickley's legendary Walter Robinson American Legion Post 450.  The post is named after Walter R. Robinson, a World War I veteran from Leet Township who was not allowed to join Sewickley's white-only American Legion post. Mr. Robinson died in 1921 from complications of being gassed during the war.  The Post was named in his honor in September of 1922.

In 1944, Post 450 moved into the old Sewickley train depot on Chadwick St.  During the big band era, the renovated building was a prominent social organization within the black communities of Sewickley and Pittsburgh, attracting many well known entertainers such as Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Washington, Ray Charles, Fats Domino, Cab Calloway, and Count Basie.

"We are excited to be laying the groundwork for a significant oral history recording project at the Post," said Kevin Farkas, audiographer with the Veteran Voices of Pittsburgh initiative. "Our intent is not only to preserve these stories for future generations and historians, but to bring them to life with our creative, multi-media approach to oral histories."

The Veteran Voices of Pittsburgh initiative weaves together high definition audiography, videography, still photography, and written historical narratives to create "an oral history experience," says Mr. Farkas.  "We provide an oral, aural, and visual context to these stories to captivate people's imaginations, warm their hearts, and to inspire them to think and feel more deeply about the everyday history that surrounds us."

New Veteran Voices of Pittsburgh Partnership

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Kevin Farkas

The Social Voice Project^®
412.423.8034 | TheSocialVoiceProject@gmail.com
http://thesocialvoiceproject.blogspot.com/

 NEW ORAL HISTORY PROJECT GIVES PITTSBURGH AREA VETERANS

A CHANCE TO TELL THEIR STORIES 

PITTSBURGH, PA – February 3, 2012 – Veteran Voices of Pittsburgh^® is a nonprofit, multimedia oral history project jointly created by The Social Voice Project, The Veterans Breakfast Club, and StartPoint Media, Inc.  The project is dedicated to capturing, preserving, and sharing the experiences of Pittsburgh area veterans of all branches of service and eras, including peace and war-time service.   

Thomas Wiley of Pittsburgh pauses to reflect
on his days as a young B 17 pilot during WW II.

“We want to honor and thank Pittsburgh area veterans for their service by giving them a chance to tell their stories, on their own terms, and in their own way,” says Kevin Farkas, audiographer, Navy veteran, and director of The Social Voice Project.  “All veterans have remarkable stories of patriotism, sacrifice, and bravery.  They also have fascinating stories of fear and loneliness, confusion, boredom, mundane duties, life-long friendships, humor, and exotic travel.  To fully understand and appreciate veterans' experiences, we need to hear these stories as well.” 

Capturing the voices of “The Greatest Generation” is a priority.  “We are losing so many of our aging WW II era veterans,” says Todd DePastino, historian, author, and executive director of The Veterans Breakfast Club. “Unfortunately, most WW II veterans will pass on before their stories can be preserved. Too often family members take their parents’ stories for granted; they’ve heard the old ‘war stories’ many times, but very few are ever recorded.  Once a veteran dies we’ve lost an important eye witness to history.  The families of our oldest veterans must ensure that these stories are preserved for their children, grandchildren, and all future generations.”  

The Veteran Voices of Pittsburgh project uses high definition technology, formatting, and techniques to enhance oral histories. “We want to enrich the oral history experience, inspire the imagination, and warm the heart. High quality design, direction, and multimedia are essential for us,” says Chris Rolinson, award winning videographer, US Army veteran, and owner of StartPoint Media. “Unlike most oral history projects, our interviews are presented in dedicated audiographic, videographic, and written media.  Each genre yields a different experience, and the different media make the interviews accessible through a variety of platforms, including websites, social media, mobile devices, and print.  We want these veterans’ stories to be widely accessible, not hidden away in an obscure archive.” 

This is a lasting way to thank all veterans for their service.  To donate or become a corporate/individual sponsor of The Veteran Voices of Pittsburgh oral history project, please contact The Social Voice Project.  Volunteers are also needed to help preserve and share these stories as part of our American heritage.  Your generous support is tax deductible as allowed by law. 

For more information, please contact Kevin Farkas. 

The Social Voice Project^® 

http://TheSocialVoiceProject.blogspot.com 

TheSocialVoiceProject@gmail.com

The Veterans Breakfast Club^®

http://TheVeteransBreakfastClub.com 

Todd@TheVeteransBreakfastClub.com

StartPoint Media, Inc. 

http://www.startpointmedia.com 

crolinson@gmail.com

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