Friedl Pfeiffer was born in Austria in 1911. During the 1930s he became one of Europe's premier ski racers and instructors. After coming to the U.S., Pfeiffer was head of the Mount Hood, Or. ski school; instructor at the Sun Valley Ski Resort; and U.S. Olympic ski coach. With the outbreak of World War II, he was initially jailed as an enemy alien, but was released and enlisted in the Army at Salt Lake City, Utah in 1943. At the time of Pfieffer's enlistment he was not yet an American citizen, married and had completed two years of high school. He joined the 10th Mountain Division at Camp Hale, Colo. and was assigned to the 10th Mountain Cavalry Reconnaissance, later serving with the Mountain Training Group and Company A of the 87th Infantry Regiment. Pfeiffer transferred to Camp Swift, Tex. before being sent to Italy. He was wounded in action at Le Coste in April 1945. He had attained the rank of Sergeant. Following the war, Pfeiffer was instrumental in the development of the Aspen, Colo. ski area. He died in 1995.
From the description of Friedl Pfeiffer papers, 1980-1994. (Denver Public Library). WorldCat record id: 244485052
