The 10th Mountain Division Memorial - Aspen, CO - Specific Veteran Memorials on Waymarking.com

This monument to the 10th Mountain Division is located in a plaza at the base of Aspen Mountain Ski Resort, near the Little Nell Gondola. The plaza is a large open area with many benches and other seating available, some with tables. It is surrounded by various shops, restaurants and other ski / tourist related businesses. The bronze sculpture depicts a Military Ski Trooper skiing. It is situated atop a carved rock pillar about 6 feet high. On one side of the pillar, inscribed in the rock is the 10th Mountain Division crest, with the inscription:

10th MOUNTAIN DIVISION

[10th Moutain Division Crest]

WE CONQUER MEN
AND MOUNTAINS

A bronze plaque attached to another side of the pillar reads:

This bronze sculpture is dedicated in perpetual memory of the 992 young men of the 10th Mountain Division who gave their lives for a cause in the Aleutian Islands and Italy in 1943 - 1945. It is also dedicated in recognition of those 10th Mountain Division Veterans who came to Aspen in the early years after the war to open businesses, teach skiing, work their trades and to assist greatly in making Aspen an internationally recognized ski resort. Their names will always be a part of Aspen.

[10th Moutain Division Crest]

This monument donated to the City of Aspen, Colorado
August 2, 1997

By:
Bert Bidwell, Company A/87
A long-time resident and 10th Mountain Division Veteran

Created by Chris Navarro


The 10th Mountain Division
Charles Minot Dole (Minnie Dole), Chair of the National Ski Patrol Association of the National Ski Association, urged the U.S. Military to develop elite mountain troops. Dole believed the need for trained alpine soldiers existed and he emphasized the presence of skilled skiers in the US able to meet these highly specialized needs of the military. With his urging, the War Department created ski patrol units within several existing divisions. Simultaneously, the National Ski Association reviewed equipment and training and by the end of the winter in 1941, there was a formal advisory relationship established.

In November 1941, the government established the 1st Battalion of 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment in Fort Lewis, Washington, with recruits training at Mount Rainier. The Army created the Mountain Training Center (MTC) at Camp Carson, Colorado, but a national search for a suitable location for winter/mountain training led to the development a site in the Colorado Rocky Mountains close to Leadville, Colorado, that became Camp Hale.

During May and June of 1942, the 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the 87th Regiment were activated and during November 1942 Camp Hale became the home post of the MTC. The 10th Mountain Division became the alpine combat arm of the US military. These battalions learned rock climbing, endurance through long distance marches and cross country ski trips, down hill skiing, winter/mountain survival techniques, and combat throughout the winter of 1943-1944.

Allied soldiers had been unsuccessful in breaking German lines established in the northern Italian Alps, and the defenses appeared impenetrable. Mount Belvedere provided the key to advancement into the Po Valley and securing Mount Belvedere depended on routing German artillery entrenched on Riva Ridge, a three and a half mile ridge connecting a series of mountains. Warm weather rendered the specially designed winter camouflage clothing and equipment useless and the planned assault on Riva Ridge required climbing rather than skiing.

On the night of February 18, 1945, companies of the 86th Regiment scaled Riva Ridge surprising the Germans. The capture of Riva Ridge enabled the 85th and 87th Regiments to move on Mount Belvedere and the adjacent peaks Mounts Gorgolesco and della Torraccia. In capturing these peaks, the 10th Mountain lost over 900 ski troopers with over 4,000 wounded.

List if there are any visiting hours: None - it is in an open public plaza Entrance fees (if it applies): None Type of memorial: Statue Website pertaining to the memorial: Not listed

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Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   07/15/2011 Chasing Blue Sky visited it