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Camp Hale, Colorado |
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| The 10th Mountain Division of the
United States Army specialized in mountain and winter warfare, trained
in the Colorado Rockies, and fought in the Apennine Mountains of Italy.
9/2003- Just found this new resource at Denver Public LIbrary.
NEW - http://www.denver.lib.co.us/whg/tenth.html#search
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CAMP HALE In 1942, Pando, Colorado, was a two-room train depot situated in the picturesque Eagle Park valley. By January 1943, an army camp filled the valley and was receiving the first men of the 10th Mountain Division for instruction in mountain and winter warfare, mountaineering, skiing and rock climbing. In less than eight months, the camp grew to accommodate a full U.S. Army Division of 14,000 men. |
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| Company L executes an about-face
on skis under the command of Lieutenant William J. Bourke. Still from the Warner Brothers film: "The Fighting Mountaineers." Approximately one-hundred soldiers from the Tenth Mountain Division, 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment, Company L, execute an about face on skis under the command of Lieutenant William J. Bourke on a flat snow-covered field. In the background, smaller groups of skiers are visible training in the trees at the base of one of the mountains surrounding Camp Hale, Colorado. |
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On Maneuvers Ski troops trained in the Rockies at altitudes up to 14,000 feet, often under brutal weather conditions and for weeks at a time. As if nature were not enough of a challenge, the men carried rucksacks sometimes weighing as much as 90 lbs. Summary: Fifteen Tenth Mountain Division soldiers pose for a picture
along a snow-covered trail. They are wearing "whites," the
winter camouflage uniform, and are carrying rifles. |
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| Mule trenches, Camp Hale
The army mules at Camp Hale struggle in the deep snow and receive
assistance from the soldiers. |
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Camp Hale TimeLine
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| 1942 April | Construction began on Camp Hale in Pando, Colorado |
| 1942 August | detachment of 87th Regiment to Ashcroft |
| 1942 Nov. | troops moved into Camp Hale and form the 10th Mountain Division |
| 1942 Winter | 10th Mountain Division soldiers skied on Aspen Mountain and stayed at the Hotel Jerome |
| 1943 June | Third platoon of 10th Reconnaissance—including Friedl Pfeifer—marched to Aspen on maneuvers |
| 1943 Winter | 10th Mountain Division soldiers skied at Aspen and stayed at the Hotel Jerome |
| 1944 | November: 10th Mountain Division sent to Italy where they would take Riva Ridge, Mt. Belvedere, and open a path for the 5th Army to advance up the Po Valley |
| 1945 May | German Army surrendered Walter and Elizabeth Paepcke visited Aspen—Paepcke established the Aspen Company and began to buy up real estate |
| 1945 August | Friedl Pfeifer went to Aspen to generate support for a ski resort there |
| 1945 Sept. | Pfeifer met with Paepcke at Perry Park to discuss Aspen's development |
| 1945 Oct. | 10th Mountain Division disbanded |
| 1945 Nov. | Pfeifer took over management of the boat tow and built a rope tow |
| 1945 Dec. | Aspen Ski School opened for business with co-directors Pfeifer, Percy Rideout, and Johnny Litchfield |
| 1946 Jan. | Aspen Skiing Corporation established |
Camp Hale has a web site: http://www.camphale.org
"This first insignia was used by the 10th Mountain Division at Camp Hale and appeared on signs, the Headquarters Building and on the masthead of the division newspaper. The railroad stop at Camp Hale was Pando, Colorado. The design became know as the Pando-Commando. The Panda Bear on skis with an M1 rifle was considered a "cartoon" design and hence The Institute of Heraldry would not accept it as the official patch. However, The design was made into a patch after the war by members of the National Association of the 10th Mountain Division.
The 'Official' logo of the 10th Mountain Division.
Contact Information
Camp Hale is located in the White River National Forest on highway 24 between Leadville and Minturn, Colorado.
Last modified: Friday, 29-Oct-2004 11:54:25 MDT
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