Camp Ripley in Morrison County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
99th Infantry Battalion (Sep) activated at Camp Ripley August 1942
Photographed By Erik Brun
1. 99th Infantry Battalion (Sep) activated at Camp Ripley August 1942 Marker
On 15 August 1942 the 99th infantry Battalion (Separate) was activated here at Camp Ripley, Minnesota. Made up of Norwegian and Norwegian Americans, the Battalion moved to Fort Snelling and then to Camp Hale Colorado in December to begin mountain and winter warfare training.
Erected 2014 by MN National Guard.
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Patriots & Patriotism • War, World II.
Location. 46° 4.88′ N, 94° 20.857′ W. Marker is in Camp Ripley, Minnesota, in Morrison County. Memorial is on Infantry Rd, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 15000 Highway 115, Little Falls MN 56345, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Belle Prairie Church and Log Cabin (approx. 3.3 miles away); Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (approx. 3.3 miles away); Holy Family Parish (approx. 3.3 miles away); Log Cabin (approx. 3.3 miles away); Site of Foundation of the Missionary Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (approx. 3.3 miles away); The Bell (approx. 3.3 miles away); The Way of the Cross (approx. 3.3 miles away); The Monument (approx. 3.3 miles away).
Regarding 99th Infantry Battalion (Sep) activated at Camp Ripley August 1942. In the two years following
this page online
The 99th Infantry Battalion (Separate) was activated in August 1942, Here at Minnesota’s Camp Ripley. The unit quickly grew and moved to Fort Snelling near Minneapolis. By mid-December the unit received orders to move to the newly completed Camp Hale, Colorado. The Battalion was identified as a “separate” unit since it did not belong to a regiment. Composed of Norwegian citizens and Norwegian Americans, the unit engaged in grueling winter and mountain warfare training at elevations above 10,000 feet. By August 1943 the unit was combat ready and moved to Europe.
Landing two weeks after D-Day, they fought across Northern Europe to the German border with the second armored division. With the 30th Infantry Division they helped encircle the historic German capital of Aachen and held the line during the bitter winter fighting around Malmedy during the Battle of the Bulge.
In January 1945, the Battalion joined the veterans of the First Special Service Force, Darby’s Rangers and the 552nd Anti-Tank Company in the new 474th Infantry Regiment. In April the Regiment joined Patton’s third Army for
Photographed By Erik Brun, 2014
2. United States Norwegian Troop Reciprocal Exchange
This nearby tablet memorializes the long relationship between the Norwegian Ministry of Defense and the Minnesota National Guard exemplifies the tradition of the 99th.
Also see . . . 99th Infantry Battalion (Separate) Foundation. The educational foundation established to preserve the memory and sacrifices of these brave men. (Submitted on June 4, 2016, by Erik Brun of Chester, Virginia.)
Additional keywords. Norwegian American, NORSO, RYPE, 474th Infantry Regiment, Ft Snelling, Camp Hale,
Photographed By Erik Brun
3. Detail from 99th Battalion Foundation Educational Poster about Camp Ripley
A letter home from Lt. Allen Lindholm about life at Camp Ripley in September, 1942. Lindholm was killed in action with the battalion in France, in 1944.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on June 4, 2016, by Erik Brun of Chester, Virginia. This page has been viewed 965 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 4, 2016, by Erik Brun of Chester, Virginia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. A wide shot of the marker and its surroundings. • Can you help?
