United States. Army. Mountain Division, 10th

The 10th Mountain Division, a full division of the United States Army, specializing in mountain and winter warfare, trained at Camp Hale, Colorado, during World War II. Experienced in skiing, mountaineering and cold-weather survival as well as military tactics, the soldiers fought enemy forces in the Italian Campaign of 1945. Dubbed the "ski troops" by the press, the 10th Mountain Division remains the only military division recruited by a civilian organization, the National Ski Patrol. Many 10th veterans contributed greatly to the development of the recreational ski industry in the United States and to the growth of related fields such as outdoor equipment development and nature conservation.

From the description of 10th Mountain Division database records, 1942-1946 [manuscript]. (Denver Public Library). WorldCat record id: 180927501

The 10th Mountain Infantry Division was activated 15 July 1943 at Camp Hale Colorado as the 10th Light Division (Pack, Alpine); moved to Camp Swift, Texas (June 1944) and redesignated the 10th Mountain Division; staged at Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia (December 1944) for movement to Italy (January 1945); participated in the North Apennines and Po Valley campaigns with IV Corps and Fifth Army (1945); returned to Camp Carson, Colorado (August 1945); and inactivated (November 1945). It was reactivated as a training division in July 1948 at Fort Riley, Kansas, processing and training a total of 123,000 men between 1948 and 1953. In January 1954, the 10th Training Division was redesignated a combat infantry division and was staffed by personnel and equipment from the 37th Infantry Division. Under Operation Gyroscope, the 10th Infantry Division replaced the 1st Infantry Division in Germany where it remained until 1958 when it was replaced by the 3rd Infantry Division. The 10th was then sent to Fort Benning, Georgia, and inactivated June 1958. The division was again reactivated in February 1985 at Fort Drum, New York, as the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) where it continues to serve at present (2003).

From the description of Infantry - 10th Mountain Infantry Division papers, 1940-1990. (US Army, Mil Hist Institute). WorldCat record id: 53138802