Near Leadville in Lake County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)
10th Mountain Division Memorial
Summit: Tennessee Pass, Co
Photographed By Terry Ploot, May 26, 2014
1. Memorial Day 2014, 10th Mountain Division Memorial Marker
10th Mountain Division
World War II
In memory of our 990 comrades in arms who gave their lives on the WWII battlefields of Italy and the Aleutian Islands.
Campaigns
Northern Apennine Mountains, Po Valley, Kiska
Major Battles
Riva Ridge, Mt. Della Spe, Mt. Della Torraccia Mt. Grande, Mt. Belvedere, Mt. Della Castellana Mt. Moscoso, Po River, Lake Garda
Major Battles Riva Ridge, Mt. Della Spe, Mt. Della Torraccia, Mt. Grande, Mt. Belvedere, Mt. Della Castellana, Mt. Moscoso, Po River, Lake Garda Division Units 85th Mountain Infantry Regiment, 86th Mountain Infantry Regiment, 87th Mountain Infantry, Regiment 604th Mountain Artillery Battalion, 605th Mountain Artillery Battalion, 616th Mountain Artillery Battalion, 10th Mountain Anti-Tank Battalion, 110th Mountain Signal Company, HQ & HQ Btry 10th Mountain Div Arty, 10th Mountain Quartermaster Battalion, 10th Mountain Medical Battalion, HQ & HQ Co 10th Mountain Division, 126th Mountain Engineer Battalion, 10th Mountain Military Police Pltn, 10th Mountain Cavalry Recon Troop, 710th Mountain Ordnance Company Roll of Honor
(There are now 1000 names on the monument - including two unknowns, as more were added in 2009 - see link below)
Division trained at Camp Hale, Colorado, 1942, 1943,
this page online
A finer combat organization has never existed 10th Mountain Division Association War Memorial Foundation, Inc., 1959
Erected 1959 by 10th Mountain Division Memorial Fund, Tenth Mountain Division Foundation.
Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, World II.
Location. 39° 21.692′ N, 106° 18.631′ W. Marker is near Leadville, Colorado, in Lake County. Memorial is at the intersection of U.S. 24 and Tennessee Pass Rd, on the left when traveling south on U.S. 24. A nice parking area is provided with easy access to the kiosk and monuments. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Leadville CO 80461, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Office of Strategic Services (O.S.S.) NORSO (Rype Group) Special Force (within shouting distance of this marker); Norwegian Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Construction of Camp Hale (approx. 5.2 miles away); The Highest Compost Pile in the World (approx. 6˝ miles away); Top Secret (approx. 6˝ miles away); Skiing on Top of the World (approx. 6˝ miles away); More Than Just a Mine (approx. 6˝ miles away); Water Treatment Protects Downstream Users (approx. 6˝ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Leadville.
Regarding 10th Mountain Division Memorial.
Photographed By Syd Whittle, circa 2004
2. 10th Mountain Division Memorial Marker
Summit: Tennessee Pass, Colorado
A stunning and unique massive granite monolith sits atop “The 10th Mountain Division Highway” on the summit of Tennessee Pass in honor and memory of over 1000 United States soldiers killed in action or nearly one tenth of the 13,000 man 10th Mountain Division during world II. These men made the ultimate and supreme sacrifice on the island of Kiska, Aleutian Islands, in defense from invasion of the United States by Japanese forces, and the Apennine Mountains of Italy. In six months, the Division ultimately defeated over 100,000 German soldiers and accepted the full surrender of all German and Italian axes forces in Italy. Over 4,000 10th soldiers were wounded during the two campaigns. The entire Division trained in the Pando Valley at Camp Hale specifically constructed for the training of America’s only winter hardened mountain combat troops. Camp Hale lies five miles north of this location as well as Cooper Hill one mile east of this location where troops trained on skis.
Sharing the solemn but also beautiful Memorial site complex is an additional monument dedicated to the 99th Infantry Battalion (Separate). “The Viking Battalion” originated at Camp Ripley, Minnesota and was comprised only of Norwegians or Americans of direct Norwegian decent. “The Viking Battalion”
Photographed By Erik Brun, circa September 2007
3. 10th Mountain Division Memorial Marker
An interpretive Kiosk erected by the 10th Mountain Foundation.The Monument is to the right of the flagpole with the Norwegian Monument to its right. The Norwegian Memorial has dedications to the 99th Infantry Battalion (Norwegian) and the Norwegian OSS Operational Groups whose soldiers trained at Camp Hale with the 10th Mountain.
The Memorial was placed in 1959 by the then 10th Mountain Division Memorial Fund and was dedicated on Memorial Day of that year. Donations and funding for the Memorial became greater than needed and thus, Tenth Mountain Division Foundation, Inc. became a reality.
Every year since then, memorial services are held on the observance of Memorial Day. The Foundation provides additional funds for flowers to be placed every Memorial Day at the grave sites of the 327 soldiers of the 10th who perished in battle and who remain interned at the American Cemetery near Florence, Italy.
The Tenth Mountain Division Foundation maintains the Memorial in conjunction with 10th Mountain Division Hut Association named in honor of the 10th which operates and maintains 32 backcountry ski to ski huts and is the largest hut system in the United States.
To learn much more about this unique American military history and the many additional organizations of the 10th Mountain Division, the current 10th Mountain Division Light and the “Viking Battalion” be sure and visit this beautiful Memorial which remembers those who sacrificed in perpetuity.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
Also see . . .
1. Tenth Mountain Foundation. The Tenth Mountain Division Foundation carries forward the legacy and memory of America’s World War II alpine and winter warfare soldiers. (Submitted on September 8, 2016, by Erik Brun of Chester, Virginia.)
2. The 10th Mountain Division Hut Association. Association website himepage:
10th Mountain is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization that manages a system of 34 back-country huts in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, connected by 350 miles of suggested routes. We provide a unique opportunity for back-country skiing, mountain biking, or hiking while staying in secure, comfortable shelter. Our name honors the men of 10th Mountain Division of the U.S. Army, who trained during World War II at Camp Hale in central Colorado. Hut visitors share the special spirit of these individuals, especially their pursuit of excellence, self reliance, and love of the outdoors. (Submitted on September 8, 2016, by Erik Brun of Chester, Virginia.)
3. 10th Mountain Division Resource Center. Denver Public Library website entry:
In 1987, the Denver Public Library teamed with the Colorado Historical Society Museum (now History Colorado) and the National Association of the 10th Mountain Division to create the 10th Mountain Division Resource Center. The Resource Center is the official repository for all records and artifacts related to the World War II 10th Mountain Division. (Submitted on September 8, 2016, by Erik Brun of Chester, Virginia.)
Additional keywords. US Army, Ski, Mountaineering,
Credits. This page was last revised on June 15, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 8, 2016, by Erik Brun of Chester, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,443 times since then and 149 times this year. Last updated on September 12, 2016, by Erik Brun of Chester, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 8, 2016, by Erik Brun of Chester, Virginia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
