Pasquale Vitelli was born on April 8, 1917, in Pennsylvania. He was the son of Martin Vitelli and Mary Rose Ritucci Vitelli. He was the husband of Agnes Leczinski Milbury. He served in the 31st Infantry Regiment as a Sergeant during World War II.

After the fall of Bataan in the hands of the Japanese Army on April 9, 1942, Sgt Vitelli was one of the 10,000 to 12,000 Americans who were forced to march over 60 miles under brutal conditions, resulting in 1,000 to 5,000 deaths due to starvation, dehydration, and abuse. Survivors were sent to Camp O'Donnell, where dire conditions, including overcrowding, malnutrition, and disease, caused an additional 1,500 to 2,300 American deaths within weeks. Those who survived faced ongoing hardships, including transfers to other camps and forced labor, where many continued to suffer or die.

Sgt Vitelli was among the American soldiers who lost their lives in captivity on November 2, 1942. He is now buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Honolulu County, Hawaii, USA.

Source of information: www.livescience.com