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 Trailblazers. . 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.
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.
Location. 44° 41.967′ N, 123° 12.499′ W. Marker is near Corvallis, Oregon, in Benton County. Memorial can be reached from Camp Adair Road near Pacific Highway West (Oregon Route 99W), on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 29694 Camp Adair Road, Corvallis OR 97330, United States of America. Touch for directions.
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.
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 192 times since then and 11 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.
