Near Leadville in Lake County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Office of Strategic Services (O.S.S.) NORSO (Rype Group) Special Force
Photographed by Erik Brun
1. Office of Strategic Services (O.S.S.) NORSO (Rype Group) Special Force Marker
Activated 10 July 1942 at Camp Ripley Minnesota
Deactivated 11 November 1945 at Camp Miles Standish, Boston Massachusetts
Battle Awards - Presidential Unit Citation- Belgian Croix De Guerre Normandy Northern France Ardennes Rhineland Central Europe
8 May 1945
As quoted by an unknown but remembered 2nd Armored Division Major at the end of the attack thru Northern France This Viking Battalion is the only infantry outfit tanks have trouble keeping up with
Erected 1985 by 99th Infantry Battalion and NORSO Veterans Groups.
Topics and series. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Norwegian-Americans series list.
Location. 39° 21.711′ N, 106° 18.634′ W. Memorial is near Leadville, Colorado, in Lake County.
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Regionally, this memorial is in Colorado’s Arkansas River Valley, in the Colorado High Rockies and on the Continental Divide. It is also in the American Mountain West. Globally, it is in North America, the Rocky Mountains, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Norwegian Monument (a few steps from this marker); Norwegian Memorial (a few steps from this marker); A History of the 10th Mountain Division (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named A History of the 10th Mountain Division (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named A History of the 10th Mountain Division (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named A History of the 10th Mountain Division (within shouting distance of this marker); 10th Mountain Division Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Tennessee Pass (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Leadville.
Regarding Office of Strategic Services (O.S.S.) NORSO (Rype Group) Special Force. A new interpretive sign will be 3'x 4' and located to the left of the Norwegian Memorial. To be erected in the Summer 2016. The site is maintained by the 10th Mountain Division Foundation, 99th Infantry Battalion Foundation and the Special Forces Association Chapter IV/XXIV.
Also see . . .
Photographed by Erik Brun
2. Officer of Static Services O.S.S. NORSO (Rype Group) Special Forces Marker
Representatives of Fort Carson's 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) and the Special Forces Association, Chapter IV/XXXIV show their respect at the annual Ski-In event in February each year. They gather each year in February to honor the men who trained at nearby Camp Hale and Memorial Day to honor their fallen.
During late 1944/early 1945 a sabotage mission to Norway was planned, with the name Operation RYPE (Norwegian for Grouse). The main mission would be to destroy railroad lines in Norway making it impossible for the Germans to move their troops in Norway to the European Continent where they would be needed during the final battles of the war. Because the British Navy had mined the Norwegian coastal waters, the railroad was viewed as the only way for the Germans to move their troops south. Thus, Operation RYPE was considered to be of high strategic importance. (Submitted on June 18, 2016, by Erik Brun of Chester, Virginia.)
Additional commentary.
1. Norwegian Operational Groups
Major General William J. “Wild Bill” Donovans vision to create an organization that would integrate intelligence, counterintelligence and field operations into one distinct organization gave rise to the Office of Strategic Services or OSS.
In the summer of 1943, a hundred men of the 99th were selected by the OSS for clandestine operations in Europe. These Norwegian speaking soldiers would become the core of two Norwegian Operational Groups of the London based Special Operations
Photographed by Erik Brun
3. Officer of Static Services O.S.S. NORSO (Rype Group) Special Forces Marker
The 10th Mountain Division Association hosts two annual events at this monument site. The highlights of February's annual Ski-In are the Flag Run down the slope on a ski run, (originally developed by the Army to train Ski Troopers for Camp Hale now run by nearby Ski Cooper) and a memorial service. The second major annual event is every Memorial Day.
The men of the 99th and NORSO would see their ancestral homeland and serve as honor guards to welcome the Norwegian Royal family on their return, proudly cementing the bonds between these two great nations.
— Submitted June 18, 2016, by Erik Brun of Chester, Virginia.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 14, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 4, 2016, by Erik Brun of Chester, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,655 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 18, 2016, by Erik Brun of Chester, Virginia. 2, 3. submitted on June 4, 2016, by Erik Brun of Chester, Virginia. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
