Pasquale Masciotra

Pasquale Masciotra was born in Italy on June 4, 1924. At the age of seven, he immigrated with his family to the San Fernando Valley, where they made a living as farmers. He was drafted into the U.S. Army on April 20, 1944, and trained at Fort MacArthur in San Pedro, California. During World War II, Pasquale served as a medic providing lifesaving care on the front lines.

He fondly recalls marching through the Arc de Triomphe after the liberation of Paris in August 1944. Following his time in France, he continued to serve in Germany. After the war, Pasquale returned to work as a produce buyer, a profession he had begun before his service.

In 1946, he married Nettie, with whom he shared 52 years of marriage until her passing in 1999. Together, they raised three children: Vincent, Patricia, and Martha, and were later blessed with five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Today, Pasquale lives with his daughter Patricia in Simi Valley, California, where he enjoys walking, spending time with his German shepherd, Duke, and working in the yard.