75 Years Ago Today with the 10th Mountain Division

REMEMBERING THE 10th MOUNTAIN DIVISION
It was 75 years ago today on Feb. 18, 1945, that the men of the 10th literally climbed to one of history’s most miraculous military victories, the Battle of Riva Ridge, in the northern Apennine Mountains of Italy. Henry Townsend, the hero of my historical fiction, Twilight of Memory, was with them. His near fatal woulds will come tomorrow on the nearby  battle for Mt. Belvedere.

But in real life...In one of their more harrowing feats, the 10th scaled Riva Ridge and Mount Belvedere in the Northern Apennines in February of 1945 and surprised the Germans on top of the mountains.  The Germans didn’t think anyone could actually make the trek, especially at night on the slippery ice, but the Germans were wrong. The soldiers of the 10th climbed silently to the top.

It was key to opening up an offensive that, over the next three months, led the troops to the Alps.

The next day's operation, the assault on Mt. Belvedere, would prove very difficult. The American troops, with assistance from the Argentinian troops, were victorious, but at a heavy price. Approximately 1000 of the 13,000 men died.

Over the next few months, the 10th and other Allied troops would continue to pursue and push the Germans out of Italy. It would be in April during the push forward that Senator Bob Dole was injured in nearby Castel d'Aiano.

After the war some 260 members of the 10th returned to America and started ski patrols, ski schools, etc. They were instrumental in building the ski and snow sports industry we enjoy today.

An interesting fact, for me, is that two of the Von Trapp family boys joined the 10th and trained at Camp Hale, Colorado before fighting in Italy.

Today the 10th is still fighting. They are in Afghanistan. Pray for them and all in our military.

"Climb to Glory" 10th!