In the third of a three-part series, guest author Mary Stevens highlights the accomplishments of America’s 10th Mountain Division, a specially-trained Army unit that succeeded in combat in ways no one else had before. Post-war veterans set about changing Colorado’s image and economy well into the future. Look for “Part 1: Formation and Warfare” and “Part 2: Ski Towns and Industry.”
***
A Legacy of Innovations
Military Innovations
Because mountain fighting was a very different type of warfare, it required some changes to the fighting and training of the 10th Mountain Division.
Equipment. Many new types of equipment were created specifically for the 10th Mountain Division. The men used snowmobiles for transportation, and they wore insulated white uniforms as camouflage, and to protect themselves in below-freezing temperatures in several feet of snow. They modified skis to make them easier to carry as well as to put on and take off, since speed was such an important factor.
Tactics. When fighting in the mountains of Italy, the 10th Mountain Division could accomplish tasks other units couldn’t. For example, multiple unsuccessful attempts to break the lines on the top of the Apennines inspired Operation Encore, in which regiments within the division were sent up different mountains to sneak up on the Germans. My grandfather spent his time in the campaign laying radio lines to ensure communications with the units as they advanced.
Medical Evacuation. The challenge of getting men who were injured on the side of a mountain down to medical aid was something the Army had yet to explore in depth. Paul Petzoldt joined the 10th at Camp Hale and helped develop medical evacuation techniques for mountain terrain. Petzoldt’s innovations may very well have helped my grandfather, who was injured on February 22, 1945 when he was hit in the face with shrapnel.
Other Innovations
Some of the men of the 10th Mountain Division who returned home had different goals in mind than skiing.
The Sierra Club. David Brower saw a significant amount of destruction to land during the war and was dismayed by over development in the Alps. With similar claims about the town of Vail, he thought it should stop growing so it didn’t ruin the gorgeous landscape and nature surrounding the town. His conservationism inspired Brower to become the first Executive Director of the Sierra Club, who work to defend nature and wildlife.
Endangered Animal Protection. Animal lover Morley Nelson, another 10th Mountain Division veteran, dedicated his life to conservancy and endangered animals. Nelson worked to stop the hunting and killing of birds of prey and even worked with electric companies, who reported large numbers of eagles landing on power lines, to reduce the number of fatalities.
Hut and Trail System. Fritz Benedict was an architect who was involved in buildings at Snowmass and Vail ski resorts. He later developed the 10th Mountain Hut and Trail System in the high country of Colorado, which allows hikers to experience some of the same trails that soldiers used when training at Camp Hale.
The Nike Company. Bill Bowerman and a friend decided to make an exercise shoe. Using some melted moldable plastic material and pouring it over a waffle iron that inspired the pattern, only after he had poured did he realize he had no way to remove it. However, the process was improved, and the company Nike was born. Although Nike is not specifically a winter sport equipment company, it is known worldwide for its activewear.
The 10th’s Legacy
The 10th Mountain Division still exists today. They are stationed at Fort Drum, New York and they will soon be deployed in Iraq as a part of Operation Inherent Resolve. The unit doesn’t necessarily focus specifically on mountain warfare any longer, but it remains an active part of this country’s armed forces.
A memorial with the names of all the men who died in the division and more history of the unit is located on Tennessee Pass, west of Leadville, Colorado. There is also a small memorial on the top of Mount Belvedere that the Italians put up to thank the men of the 10th Mountain Division for freeing them from the Germans.
In 2016, Senator Michael Bennet put a bill into Congress to have Camp Hale designated as the first ever National Historic Landscape, which would preserve it for generations to come. A museum near the site of Camp Hale exhibits memorabilia, some of which travels to history and military museums all over the country. The families of these men have often kept their fathers’ and grandfathers’ equipment, uniforms, medals, and even their skis in their homes as memorials to those who did so much for this country during and after World War II. America owes a debt of gratitude to the innovative men of the 10th Mountain Division.
***
Mary Stevens is pursuing her Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational and Strategic Communication at UCCS. She enjoys spending time with family, especially her fiance, parents, and soon-to-be in-laws.
