Biography

As staff cameraman for ABC Network News he covered the hectic 60's including: the Watts riots, the JFK assassination from Dallas, Vietnam-Cambodia, lunar landings, 1968 Chicago riots, Cuban Missile Crisis, etc. He later went free-lance worldwide covering four Olympics: 1980 Lake Placid; 1984 Los Angeles; 1984 Sarajevo; and 1988 Calgary.

Longo's most valuable endeavor has been the founding of the International Combat Camera Association." As its past president, he devoted his time and energy to getting credit and recognition for the combat cameramen and women, a gallant few whose heroic efforts are undeniable as they continue to put themselves in harm's way in order to preserve a visual legacy.

Joe worked for Lookout Mountain A.F.S. in Hollywood, California, an Air Force installation involved in photographing highly classified projects, mainly the testing of atom bombs and the early stages of missile launches at Cape Canaveral. His favorite assignment was NASA's X-15 project, affording him many hours of high-altitude filming.

A highlight of his career was going to Taiwan and Korea as a cameraman on two State Department documentaries with the famous director John Ford.

While stationed with the 6th Combat Cmaera Unit at Guadalcanal, Longo was ordered to Tiawan to report to Admiral John Ford. After arriving he was in his room playing his recorder, a flute, when a knock on the door. He was told to report to the Old Man. Longo entered the bedroom, where sat legendary John Ford in his under wear. He asked if he was the one playing the recorder? He said do you know Danny Boy? Longo played it while Ford cried tears.