Uncle’s Courage During Wwii Inspires Nephew

Leafing through the family album of collected snapshots, I am flooded with pride as Sgt. Lester Pasquale 1st Marine Division appears in stark black and white.

Uncle Les was active in combat in World War II since the 1st Division had opened the war against Japan at Guadalcanal. He survived in Peleliu where 1,121 fellow 1st Division Marines fought to their deaths, but was shot through the shoulder in Okinawa.

My father told us about Grandpa Donald sitting in the doorway of a Sprague and Napa pharmacy waiting for Les to step out after having served seven years in the Pacific.

“In the tropical climate,” Dad said, “Les’ Italian complexion darkened so much Mom almost couldn’t recognize her own son.” But once she saw him again, she smiled, the burden of her worry lifted.

In his 70s now, Lester Pasquale has raised his family, surviving the untimely deaths of two of his children. He works today as an electrician in Northern California.

Uncle Les never spoke to me about his war experiences until I joined the Marine Reserves. Then he revealed the gripping details about his wounded journey on foot and belly through pockets of hidden Japanese snipers. He also told us about the many men who remember April 12th, the day President Roosevelt died. “We held services, but services didn’t seem enough,” he said. “The men were somber, preferring to carry their remorse inside.”

In October 1983, I went to boot camp. Marines were being killed in Beirut and I was eager to do duty. I wanted to look out for my fellow countrymen.

The courage to do this, however, came from the examples of the men and women who served during World War II. Men like my Uncle Lester. He was an inspiration to me. He came back alive and intact. He had the courage and it gave me courage. For this I thank him on the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II.

The quality of character and willingness to sacrifice to better the lives of all people were the attributes I hoped to emulate. These attributes made me a true leatherneck; the older breed still in my heart. Semper Fidelis.

MEMO: Your Turn is a feature of the Wednesday and Saturday Opinion pages. To submit a Your Turn column for consideration, contact Rebecca Nappi at 459-5496 or Doug Floyd at 459-5466 or write Your Turn, The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615.