World War II Honoree

Pasquale J. Barrese

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Brooklyn, New York

Honored By

Robert Barrese

Relationship

Son

He started basic training in Camp Croft, SC for 17 weeks at 18 years of age. From there he was sent to Ft. Meade Maryland for 3 months and more training. He was put on a ship in New Port Virginia and landed in Naples, Italy. After the invasion of Anzio Beach he was put into the Army's 45th division. From Anzio Beach he went to Rome where he saw German combat. He was hit in the left arm, left leg and upper lip with metal fragments. He jumped into a ditch and was captured. He was kept in the hospital for two week in Rome by the Germans. He was then sent to a concentration camp for three weeks. Next, he was put on a train and shipped to Germany, where he was split up by rank. He spent nine months in Southern Germany in a prison where he worked everyday outside tending to animals. In the Winter they had him chopped down trees in the Black Forest and he ate boiled potatoes, black bread (60% flour, 40% saw dust) and water. After 9 months the 3rd division of the US Army bombed the town and they surrendered. He was flown to Le Havre France and stayed at Camp Lucky Strike, a huge POW Camp. He was then put on a ship back to the U.S. He got to see his family for 60 days then was sent to N. C. for 2 weeks waiting to be discharged. He was sent the Alexandria Louisiana then finally discharged in 1945 in Ft. McClellan, Alabama at 21 years old.