10th Mountain Division Resource Center

10th Mountain Division Resource Center This page is home to the 10th Mountain Division Resource Center, the veteran-designated home of this famed division's WWII archives and artifacts.

The collection is held in partnership by History Colorado and the Denver Public Library in Denver, CO.

Happy Earth Day!When the 10th Mountain Division’s men made great sacrifices in the thick of WW2, they were carrying out ...
04/22/2026

Happy Earth Day!

When the 10th Mountain Division’s men made great sacrifices in the thick of WW2, they were carrying out their objectives in a range of noteworthy outdoor environments.

From their intense, mountainous Camp Hale training in the winter to a rippling ocean voyage back to the U.S. from Italy, nature was part of every phase of their climb to glory.

Image 1: Camp Hale in Winter. 1943-1944. History Colorado. 2023.70.26
Image 2: A rock formation used for 10th training. 1940-1950. History Colorado. 93.298.22.
Image 3: Riva Ridge from vicinity of Querciola on approach to Belvedere. 1945. Denver Public Library. TMD-653
Image 4: Belvedere. 1945. Denver Public Library. TMD-470
Image 5: Aerial view of the Apennine Mountains (Objective: Mt. Belvedere, Mt. Castello). 1945. Denver Public Library. TMD351-2019-25
Image 6: Apple Blossoms filled the air -- death waits. 1945. Denver Public Library. TMD-281
Image 7: Arial view of Rocca di Roffeno. 1945. Denver Public Library. TMD-133
Image 8: Grapes and olives. Denver Public Library. 1945. TMD-529
Image 9: Lake Garda, Italy. 1945. Denver Public Library. TMD351-2019-327
Image 10: Au riva diece, Italy!. 1945. Denver Public Library. TMD-569

Many battles, one legacy.Lieutenant Robert “Bob” Dole joined the Army Enlisted Reserve Corps in 1942 and became a replac...
04/16/2026

Many battles, one legacy.

Lieutenant Robert “Bob” Dole joined the Army Enlisted Reserve Corps in 1942 and became a replacement officer with the 85th Infantry Regiment in Italy.

He was tasked with leading troops up Hill 913 during the Spring Offensive, where indirect fire and snipers were a constant threat. While trying to reach a fallen platoon radio operator, he was severely wounded by enemy fire.

Dole was paralyzed from the neck down by a shell that struck his upper back. This caused damage to his collarbone, right arm, and spine. He was found after 10 hours, surviving even though he was deemed a lost cause.

These injuries affected him for the rest of his life, but they also led him to establish the Dole Foundation and lobby for the Americans with Disabilities Act.

He played a part in reactivating the 10th in 1985 and adding the “Mountain” tab above the division patch to honor its WW2 ties.

Dole also sought to make a national impact beyond the front lines. He won the Republican nomination for Senate in 1968 and was reelected four times. He also ran for Vice President with Gerald Ford and for President against Bill Clinton in 1996.

He lost both those races, but he gained significant military honors in his lifetime. Dole received two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star for his WW2 Service.

Image 1: Harris & Ewing, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Image 2: Jack Curtis (US Army), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Image 3: Robert and Elizabeth Dole Archive and Special Collections, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Image 4: United States Senate Historical Office, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Meet Private First-Class John Magrath, a standout in a division of honorable men who made great sacrifices during the Sp...
04/15/2026

Meet Private First-Class John Magrath, a standout in a division of honorable men who made great sacrifices during the Spring Offensive.

Connecticut-born Magrath was a Boy Scout with a passion for skiing, which came in handy when he became a U.S. Army military volunteer.

He joined the 10th Mountain Division’s 85th Infantry Regiment, where he served as a radio operator with Company G during the Italy Campaign.

The Spring Offensive carries most of Magrath’s contributions to the 10th’s legacy.
On April 14, 1945, he and his company were working to take Hill 909.

Amid these operations, his company was pinned by heavy artillery, mortar, and small arms fire near Castel d’ Aiano.

Magrath volunteered to be a scout against the Germans, working with only a rifle. He captured a machine-gun nest, then took out two more.

He later volunteered again, this time to assess casualties while mortar and artillery fire increased in intensity on the front lines, and was killed in action.

Magrath was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1946 for his brave actions. He is the only division member to receive this recognition.

Today, two monuments exist to honor his valor, created in 1955 and 2009. One sits at Camp Funston on Fort Riley, Kansas, and the other is in Castel d’Aiano.

Image 1: PFC John David McGrath, ASN 31 326 858, Born July 4, 1924, KIA April 14, 1945. 1944-1945. Denver Public Library. TMD-639
Image 2: John D. Magrath (85-G) and his Boy Scout troop. 1938. Denver Public Library. TMD351-2018-4127
Image 3: John D. Magrath (85-G). 1943-1944. Denver Public Library. TMD351-2018-4121
Image 4: John D. Magrath in whites @ Camp Hale. Denver Public Library. TMD-439

Today in 1945, the Spring Offensive began.More than a million Allied soldiers launched the attack across the Italian pen...
04/14/2026

Today in 1945, the Spring Offensive began.

More than a million Allied soldiers launched the attack across the Italian peninsula that pushed them into Po Valley, their long-standing objective.

To reach this point, the 10th Mountain Division was to clear the mountainous area between Bologna and Modena. The 86th and 87th Infantry Regiments were assigned to the clearing, while the 85th was to take Hills 909 and 913.

Poor weather conditions caused a two-day halt on the initial attacks, which gave German forces time to prepare.

24 hours before the rest of the Allied forces, the 10th broke the delay with an attack on German forces north of Mount Della Spe.

The first day was the most intense of the offensive.

Hill 909 held artillery fire from lines in direct contact with the enemy.

While trying to secure Hill 913, 85th companies faced indirect fire and snipers. Snipers, landmines, and mortars stayed continuous as small groups alternated between holding their desired positions and retreating.

The 87th got pinned near Torre Iussi. They were ordered to bypass the town and prepare to take the massif of Rocca di Roffeno while the 86th took a region near Mount Della Spe.

The 10th gained a foothold on April 17, when advanced forces took positions in Po Valley. The 87th and 86th attacked near the Samoggia River, while the 85th attacked down Route 64 on the 10th’s right.

By 8:30 a.m. on April 20, Fifth Army troops broke into Po Valley.

Their success came at a cost. The Spring Offensive resulted in 3 men taken prisoner, 1,047 wounded, and 286 KIA.

Throughout this week and beyond, we will recognize the immense sacrifices made by the 10th Mountain Division.

Image 1: Bologna. 1945. Denver Public Library. TMD-468
Image 2: Infantry of 85-I march along a dirt road edged by leafy trees. 1945. Denver Public Library. TMD351-2019-266
Image 3: Explosive hits Germans near Monte della Spe. 1945. Denver Public Library. TMD-130
Image 4: Loading a 37mm pack gun to a pack mule. 1945. Denver Public Library. TMD-379
Image 5: Shells hit Rocca di Roffeno. 1945. Denver Public Library. TMD-134

So much to do in so little time…After the March Offensive, the 10th Mountain Division had five weeks to plan, recover, a...
04/09/2026

So much to do in so little time…

After the March Offensive, the 10th Mountain Division had five weeks to plan, recover, and fortify for the Spring Offensive.

The goal for the Allies was to clear the area from Modena to Bologna, then push into Po Valley.

The 10th Mountain Division would seize a mountain region, including the Rocca Rofferno Massif, and a series of nearby towns, all north of Pra del Bianco.

This region included Hill 909, which was in direct contact with enemy forces, and Hill 913, which had indirect fire and snipers. Major General George Price Hays instructed the 85th Infantry Regiment to capture these hills, which would prevent counterattacks.

These steps would help the Allies secure a northbound highway into Bologna, another step in their climb to glory.

Image 1: Gen. Clark and Gen. Hays planning offensive. April 1945. Denver Public Library. TMD-86
Image 2: Returning to battle. April 1945. Denver Public Library. TMD391-2023-922
Image 3: Map No. 2 M. Grande - Castel D'Aiano - M Della. Spe. Armand Casini. 1950. Library of Congress
Image 4: Map No. 3 Initial Attack. Armand Casini. 1950. Library of Congress
Image 5: Map No. 4 Exploitation. Armand Casini. 1950. Library of Congress

The 10th Mountain Division’s time in Italy was met with allyship beyond the army.Italian partisan groups began as untrai...
04/01/2026

The 10th Mountain Division’s time in Italy was met with allyship beyond the army.

Italian partisan groups began as untrained locals who supported Allied resistance and occasionally confronted the Germans; they forced German troops to surrender, liberating Italian cities and welcoming their residents as new partisans.

Many were eventually trained and positioned where needed to support Allied forces in combat.

Over 50,000 Italian partisans worked with the Allied forces.

Field Marshal Harold Alexander, the Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in the Mediterranean, called on them to assist in the upcoming Spring Offensive.

These groups destroyed bridges, collected intelligence, cut telegraph lines, ambushed and stalled troops, and threatened supply lines.

Beyond front-line support, the 10th found camaraderie within Italian partisan groups. The 10th welcomed them into their headquarters for entertainment and supplemented their supply kits.

The partisan groups were grateful for the fellowship. One partisan even gave a 10th Mountain Division soldier a Carcano rifle to show their gratitude (pictured below).

Today, we show our appreciation for a partnership that helped the 10th climb to glory.

Image 1: A group of 10th Mountain Division soldiers and Italian partisans pose with an Army chaplain. 1945. Denver Public Library. TMD351-2019-387
Image 2-3: Carbine. Gifted in 1945. History Colorado. 99.180.1
Image 4: Partigiani! Italian Partisan at Iola, Italy. 1945. Denver Public Library. TMD351-2019-210

Through treks from Leadville to Aspen (pictured below), one Bronze Star-honored 10th Mountain Division soldier found his...
03/25/2026

Through treks from Leadville to Aspen (pictured below), one Bronze Star-honored 10th Mountain Division soldier found his post-war path.

Frederic “Fritz” Benedict (Image 1 in front) studied landscape architecture and apprenticed with Frank Lloyd Wright before becoming a 1st LT and S2 intelligence officer with the 126th Engineering Battalion.

Benedict grew fond of Aspen while training. Before the division left for Italy, he had started preparing to purchase a ranch when Friedl Pfeiffer approached him with plans to develop a ski area there.

His Aspen development work was mostly residential, but Benedict later designed the master plans for Vail (1962), Snowmass (1967), and Breckenridge (1971); he also assisted in designing ski resorts in Steamboat Springs and Winter Park.

In the 1980s, Benedict and a group of skiers established the 10th Mountain Division Hut Association, which created a 300-mile, European-style backcountry trail and 10 huts between Aspen and Vail.

Today, the organization has 38 huts across 350 miles; 14 of them are 10th Mountain-owned, and five were built through donations made to honor 10th Mountain Division soldiers who died in combat.

Image 1: Dirty ‘ole’ Nagel. 1943-1944. Denver Public Library. TMD-396
Image 2: Somewhere en route. 1944. Denver Public Library. TMD-478

Let’s get to know the WACs who had Camp Hale soldiers’ backs.Between 1943 and 1944, 200 members of the Women’s Army Corp...
03/18/2026

Let’s get to know the WACs who had Camp Hale soldiers’ backs.

Between 1943 and 1944, 200 members of the Women’s Army Corps were stationed at Camp Hale.

While their roles are largely absent from WWII records, general information about the WACs and select artifacts offer possibilities.

These women were army-ranked volunteers trained to take on more than 142 professional roles. This allowed more men to engage in combat on the front lines amid shortages.

They specialized in finance, transportation, communications, mechanics, and more (see the comments for a list of specific positions).

Beyond supporting the soldiers in preparing for combat, the WACs boosted morale by organizing social activities. They arranged and participated in picnics, skit shows, and dances through camp Officers’ Clubs.

Through it all, these women experienced prejudice, sexism, and skepticism about their fitness for service, which later turned into praise and respect for their contributions.

This month is dedicated in part to acknowledging their foundational efforts.

The photos below are from the Colorado Snowsports Museum, where you can find more information on the women of Camp Hale in their 10th Mountain Division exhibit.

Image 1: Camp Hale’s WACs standing at attention. 1943-1944. Colorado Snowsports Museum. 2017.29.91
Image 2: A WAC member on a Railway Express Agency vehicle. 1943-1944. Colorado Snowsports Museum. 2017.29.83
Image 3: A WAC member reviewing sheet music with a group of army members. 1943-1944. Colorado Snowsports Museum. 2017.29.190
Image 4: A WAC member poses outside the Camp Signal Office. 1943-1944. Colorado Snowsports Museum. 2017.29.24
Image 5: Two soldiers and a WAC member pose with their ski equipment. 1943-1944. Colorado Snowsports Museum. 2017.29.55

Meet Deborah Bankart Eddy, a trailblazer whose contributions helped shape the 10th Mountain Division.Bankart Eddy was a ...
03/11/2026

Meet Deborah Bankart Eddy, a trailblazer whose contributions helped shape the 10th Mountain Division.

Bankart Eddy was a ski instructor and the first U.S. female ski school director.

During WW2, she toured with former ski trooper and filmmaker John Jay, narrating his 10th Mountain Division recruitment films.

The loss of a deployed skier she helped to recruit motivated Bankart Eddy to support the troops further by joining the front lines. She volunteered with the Red Cross in Italy as their “Doughnut Girl,” handing out donuts and coffee to lift soldiers’ spirits.

It was there she met 87th Infantry Regiment CPT Roger Eddy, whom she later married and founded Eddy farm with in Connecticut.

In 2021, she was inducted into the 10th Mountain Division (LI) and Fort Drum Warrior Legend Hall of Fame for her dedication and skiing achievements.

This , we honor her legacy and service to the 10th Mountain Division she was so proud of.

Image 1: Deborah Bankart Eddy carrying her skis and poles. Denver Public Library. TMD324-2019-275
Image 2: Deborah Bankart Eddy’s Winter-Weight ARC Jacket. 1943-1946. History Colorado. 2025.5.1
Image 3: Deborah Bankart Eddy American Red Cross Uniform. 1944-1946. History Colorado. 2023.63.1
Image 4: Deborah Bankart Eddy and soldier. 1944-1945. Denver Public Library. TMD324-2019-274
Image 5: Debby with Doughnuts. February 1945. Denver Public Library. TMD-144

81 years ago, the 10th Mountain Division marched into the March Offensive. The troops made their next push toward Po Val...
03/04/2026

81 years ago, the 10th Mountain Division marched into the March Offensive.

The troops made their next push toward Po Valley between March 3 and March 6, 1945. They planned to secure a line of hills about five miles long, stretching from Mt. della Torraccia to Mt. della Spe, near the Italian town of Castel d’Aiano.

The division’s four days of short, intense attacks resulted in success.

The 87th Infantry Regiment took the crossroads of Castel d’Aiano, while the 85th Infantry Regiment simultaneously captured Mt. della Spe. and broke the German-occupied supply and communication lines leading into Po Valley.

These efforts gave the Fifth Army control of Route 64 and positioned the U.S. troops for the upcoming Spring Offensive.

The attack, while successful, sustained 135 fatalities and 473 wounded soldiers. This week is dedicated to remembering the 10th’s fatal fight and climb toward glory.

Image 1: Castel D’Aiano, Italy. April 1945. Denver Public Library. TMD-73
Image 2: 10th Mountain Division soldiers rest, under the protection of a tank destroyer. March 3, 1945. Denver Public Library. TMD351-2019-285
Image 3: A 10th Mountain Division medic treats a wounded soldier. 1945. Denver Public Library. TMD351-2019-171

The 10th was alive with the “Sound of Music.”The film was released on this day in 1965, and two members of the Austrian ...
03/02/2026

The 10th was alive with the “Sound of Music.”

The film was released on this day in 1965, and two members of the Austrian family that inspired it served in the 10th Mountain Division.

T/3 Rupert von Trapp, the eldest child characterized as Friedrich, was the division’s first Surgeon General. He earned a Bronze Star for his service.

After he was discharged, Rupert got his U.S. medical license at the University of Vermont.

SGT Werner von Trapp of the 85th Infantry Regiment, portrayed as Kurt, was the fourth-oldest child. After WWII, he established a Vermont farmstead, where the family continues to produce meat and dairy.

Today and every day, we honor 10th Mountain Division members’ sacrifices and stories, depicted on the silver screen and otherwise.

Image 1: 86th Mountain Infantry Regiment, Medical Detachment. 1943. Denver Public Library. TMD351-2017-1998

Climbing to glory takes a village, and the 10th Mountain Division found part of theirs in the 1st Brazilian Division.The...
02/25/2026

Climbing to glory takes a village, and the 10th Mountain Division found part of theirs in the 1st Brazilian Division.

The United States and Brazil were allies who entered WWII at different times. While the U.S. entered on December 8, 1941, Brazil maintained neutrality to minimize the threat to South America while determining which side would be more economically beneficial to join. During this time, critics teased that they’d see a snake smoke before Brazil entered the war.

Brazil eventually developed secret economic ties with the Axis Powers, which they later severed in exchange for strengthened U.S. economic and military support. They declared war on Aug. 22, 1942, when a German U-boat sank several Brazilian ships in retaliation.

At the end of 1944, Brazilian forces launched several unsuccessful attempts to take Mt. Castello. Months later, the 10th Mountain Division launched their assault on Mt. Belvedere, and the 1st Brazilian Division joined forces to protect their flank while wearing smoking snake patches in response to the past critics (pictured below).

The bond between Brazilian and U.S. soldiers stayed strong after these operations. 10th Mountain Division soldiers welcomed Brazil home and led their victory parade. Additionally, many post-war recognition ceremonies in Italy honored veterans from both groups together.

Image 1: 1st Brazilian Division patch. 1945. History Colorado. 2000.15.12
Image 2: 10th units lead Victory Parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 1945. Denver Public Library. TMD-361

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