Private First Class Pacelle was a member of Company A, 1st Motor Transportation Battalion, 1st Marine Division. He was killed during the breakout of his unit from Hagary to Koto-ri by the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea on 6 December 1950.

Pacelle was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.