Vincent G. Lisanti, a retired 1st Lieutenant USAF, served in World War 2, in the 15th Air Force's 460th Bombardment Group. He was shot down on April 13, 1944 and became a prisoner of war, interned in Stalag Luft III, a German prison compound.

Watch Vincent's interview for West Point's Center for Oral History here - 
"Dear Son, What On Earth Are You Doing In A Prison Camp?” A B-24 Pilot Recollects

When he returned home, he attended Rochester Institute of Technology where he studied photography, and earned a degree in Photographic Science And Technology.

After graduation, he started his professional career at the research laboratory of the Eastman Kodak Company where he developed the Fractional Gradient Speed Meter. This method was used to determine the most useful tonal range of the characteristic curve of photographic film, and was accepted by the American Standard Association.

This position at Eastman Kodak Color Research quickly led to a career as a professional photographer which spanned more than 30 years.

His work was featured on over a thousand magazine covers, including publications such as National Geographic, Life Magazine, Architectural Digest, Better Homes & Gardens, House Beautiful, Family Circle and Cycle.

Career achievements include:

• Named Nikon World Sports Photographer of the Year in 1976.
  
• Was the only photographer allowed to photograph the newly renovated interiors of the White House during the Kennedy administration.
  
• Was the only photographer from the United States to be invited by The Bulb Growers of Holland to photograph the celebration of the 400th Year of The Tulip.
  
• Served for 16 years on the advisory board of the R.I.T. School of Photography and Printing.
  
• Chosen by artist Andrew Wyeth as the sole photographer of the the interiors of his home and lifestyle for publication.
  
• Named a Director of the National Foundation of Imaging Excellence.
  

After his retirement he compiled a 20 year study of data related to human vision, entitled Physiology of Visual Response. A study of this thesis is in progress to determine its application for a Veterans rehabilitation program. 

Past Commander of the Hudson Valley Chapter of the American Ex-Prisoners of War, 

He was involved with an important computer program for veterans at the FDR Campus of the VA Hudson Valley Health Care System in Montrose, New York, called Veterans Career Opportunity Training. The program teaches computer basics, repair and maintenance, web page strategy and introductory programming. It also deploys mobile instructors who visit veterans at home or at bedside in a hospital to instruct with a laptop computer. The program has been acknowledged by the VA and the course syllabus is being evaluated for national implementation.

Sadly, Vincent passed on May 23, 2018. He was 97 years old.