Near Corvallis in Benton County, Oregon — The American West (Northwest)

The Trailblazers

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 26, 2017

1. The Trailblazers Marker

Inscription. The 70th Infantry Division was activated on 15 June 1943 as "Oregon's Own" and was named "The Trailblazers" in honor of the Oregon Trail Centennial. After a year of training here at Camp Adair the Division moved to Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri for final training before departing for Europe in late 1944. The Infantry Regiments first saw combat as Task Force Herren starting 26 December 1944 when Hitler's "Operation Nordwind" was stopped in the Vosged Mountains of Eastern France. The Blazers participated in the Ardennes-Alsace, Rhineland ad Central Europe Campaigns suffering 3,919 casualties, including 755 killed in action during the 86 consecutive days of combat. This plaque is presented on 27 August 1993 by the 70th Division Association to commemorate "The Trailblazers" 50th Anniversary and is dedicated to our fallen comrades.

Erected 1993 by 70th Division Association.

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Military • War, World II.

Location. 44° 41.967′ N, 123° 12.499′ W. Memorial is near Corvallis, Oregon, in Benton County. It can be reached from

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Camp Adair Road near Pacific Highway West (Oregon Route 99W), on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 29694 Camp Adair Road, Corvallis OR 97330, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in Oregon Wine Country

and in the Willamette Valley.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast,

in the Pacific Northwest,

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Pacific Rim,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Timberwolves (a few steps from this marker); Camp Adair (a few steps from this marker); The Wild West Division (within shouting distance of this marker); 96th Infantry Division (within shouting distance of this marker); The Van Buren Street Bridge (approx. 9.6 miles away); The Corvallis Ferry (approx. 9.6 miles away); Site of the Earliest Boat Landing (approx. 9.6 miles away); Benton County Courthouse (approx. 9.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Corvallis.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 26, 2017

2. The Trailblazers Marker

Baptized in Fire
Always Self-reliant
Brotherhood into the Future
Erected and dedicated by the
70th Regional Support Command on 25 June 2000
The form of this monument is a replica of a memorial erected by the people of the District of Forbach in France on Spicheren Heights, site of a major victory of the 70th which was dedicated on the 50th anniversary V.E. Day, 8 May 1993

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 26, 2017

3. The Trailblazers Marker

The marker is on the right.

Six surviving veterans of the 70 ID at The Trailblazers Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brian Ellis, September 20, 2019

4. Six surviving veterans of the 70 ID at The Trailblazers Memorial

Six surviving members of the 70th Infantry Division, and families, visit the monument during an annual reunion of the 70th Infantry Division Association. www.trailblazersww2.org

Credits. This page was last revised on December 14, 2020. It was originally submitted on February 25, 2018, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 365 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 25, 2018, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 4. submitted on December 14, 2020, by Brian Ellis of Glendale, California, USA.