Public Invited To 10th Mountain Division Presentation And Picnic

The 10th Mountain Division, a famed army unit in WWII and today, is hosting an open-to-the-public picnic on Saturday, July 28, 2015 at Newton Park, located near Conifer, Colorado. The picnic is organized by members of the 10th Mountain Division Descendants, Inc. as a way to honor 10th Mountain Division veterans.
The picnic includes a lot of activities such as volleyball, softball, and horseshoes for everyone in the family. The highlight of the picnic is an 11 a.m. presentation titled, Skiing Off to War: The History of the 10th Mountain Division, given by writer and historian, Flint Whitlock, also a 10th Mountain Division descendant. Whitlock has had many historical books published. The 10th Mountain Division re-enactor group is on hand in full WWII dress.
“We encourage the public to come,” said Connie Nelson, president of the 10th Mountain Division Descendants, Rocky Mountain Chapter. “In addition to seeing the re-enactors, people can participate in the day’s fun activities,” Nelson added. People who are interested in the picnic lunch are asked to call Nelson at 303-231-1320 to RSVP.
The 10th Mountain Division came into being in 1943, when it was identified by the army that it needed an elite ski force to fight in the mountainous areas of Italy. The idea of United States ski troops was borrowed from the Finnish, who used ski troops to effectively fight the Russians in its history. Hence, many young men from around the country were sent to Camp Hale, located on Tennessee Pass near Leadville, for training. 15,000 soldiers were trained in mountain climbing, Alpine and Nordic skiing, cold-weather survival, weaponry, and more.
Today, Camp Hale, overseen by the U.S. National Forest Service, still bears remnants of the original 1943 troop training facility. Foundations of buildings and barracks are still visible from Tennessee Pass and the old ski training facility, Ski Cooper, still operates today as a regular ski resort. Historical information about the 10th Mountain Division is posted along Tennessee Pass and a special memorial with the names of the 10th Mountain Division soldiers who died in battle has been built next to the pass.
For more information about the 10th Mountain Division, its memberships and activities, or about the Tenth Mountain Division Foundation, email nicon@Comcast.net.