WWII Veteran hero subject of Tom Hanks Pacific and heart

Overwhelmed: Pasquala Cassetta, a World War Two marine, is too emotional to speak as he comes face-to-face Tom Hanks at a memorial service for Pacific campaign veterans

The poignant moment Tom Hanks comforted overcome war veteran whose heroism inspired new TV series The Pacific
By Mail Foreign Service
Last updated at 4:50 PM on 12th March 2010

For one old soldier the moment was simply too much to bear.
Confronted by memories of long-gone battles and standing with the Hollywood star who had made sure distant sacrifices were not forgotten, Pasquala Cassetta was overcome.

He twisted his face away and grasped the arm of Tom Hanks, too emotional to speak.

The actor himself seemed moved, clasping Mr Cassetta, a World War Two marine, and cradling the man's face with one hand.
The soldier, from Long Island, New York, is one of the marines who inspired new 10-part HBO series, The Pacific, which Hanks executive produced along with Steven Spielberg.
A follow up to the 2001 hit series Band of Brothers, it charts the lives of US Marines fighting the Japanese after the attack on Pearl Harbour.

Spielberg said they had made wanted to make sure the Pacific theatre was also remembered.

'We did it because all of you are the greatest stories ever told,' he told veterans '... with each passing generation, more and more people are forgetting about World War Two.
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Tom Hanks comforted overcome war veteran