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10th Mountain Division

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10th Mountain Division
10th Mountain Division
- Steven Williamson (HiB2Bornot2B) - talk 21:08, 28 July 2007 (UTC) · Public domain · source
Unit name10th Mountain Division
CaptionShoulder sleeve insignia
Dates1943–1945, 1948–1958, 1985–present
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Army
TypeLight infantry
RoleMountain warfare
SizeDivision
GarrisonFort Drum, New York
Nickname"Mountaineers"
Motto*"Climb to Glory"
BattlesWorld War II, Operation Restore Hope, War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), Iraq War
Notable commandersLloyd E. Jones, George P. Hays, William H. McRaven

10th Mountain Division. A light infantry division of the United States Army, specializing in mountain warfare and arctic and cold-weather operations. Headquartered at Fort Drum in New York, it is the most deployed regular Army unit since 2001, with repeated combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. The division's lineage traces to its activation during World War II, where it fought with distinction in the Italian Campaign.

History

The division was first activated in 1943 at Camp Hale, Colorado, under the command of Lloyd E. Jones, drawing on pre-war civilian expertise from the National Ski Patrol and American Alpine Club. Its unique formation was influenced by the experiences of the Finnish Army during the Winter War and the need for specialized troops to fight in the Apennine Mountains. After rigorous training, the division deployed to Italy in early 1945, playing a decisive role in breaking the Gothic Line at battles like Monte della Torraccia and Riva Ridge, which hastened the Allied advance into the Po Valley. Deactivated after the war, it was briefly reconstituted as a training division at Fort Riley, Kansas, before being inactivated in 1958. The modern division was reactivated at Fort Drum in 1985, with its structure and mission evolving to meet contemporary global demands.

Organization

The division headquarters commands several brigade combat teams, including the 1st and 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Teams, which are light infantry formations. It also includes the 10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade and the 10th Mountain Division Combat Aviation Brigade, which operates aircraft such as the UH-60 Black Hawk and AH-64 Apache. This modular structure allows its elements to deploy independently or as part of larger Joint Task Forces under United States Central Command or United States Africa Command.

Training and equipment

Specialized training is conducted at the Northern Warfare Training Center in Alaska and the Mountain Warfare School in Vermont, focusing on mountaineering, skiing, and survival in extreme cold. Soldiers are equipped for rapid deployment, utilizing light vehicles like the M-ATV and GMV 1.1, and are trained in air assault operations. The division's Cold-weather gear and snowshoes are complemented by advanced communications and surveillance technology to operate in complex, high-altitude environments.

Campaigns and notable operations

Beyond its storied actions in the Italian Campaign of World War II, the division has been extensively deployed since its reactivation. Key operations include providing security during Operation Restore Hope in Somalia, peacekeeping in the Balkans following the Dayton Agreement, and numerous combat rotations following the September 11 attacks. It was a principal conventional force in Operation Enduring Freedom across Regional Command East and Regional Command South in Afghanistan, and also served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, particularly in regions south of Baghdad.

Honors and distinctions

The division has been awarded multiple campaign streamers for its service, including for the North Apennines Campaign and the Po Valley Campaign. Its soldiers have earned numerous individual valor awards, such as the Medal of Honor, awarded to John D. Magrath for actions at Castel d'Aiano, and several Distinguished Service Crosses. The division received the Valorous Unit Award for actions in Afghanistan and the Joint Meritorious Unit Award for its role in Somalia.

The division's legacy has been featured in films like *Fire on the Mountain*, which documents its World War II training, and The Last Ridge, based on the book by McKay Jenkins. Its history is preserved at the 10th Mountain Division Descendants, Inc. organization and the 10th Mountain Division Hut Association, which maintains a network of backcountry huts in Colorado originally inspired by division veterans.

Category:Infantry divisions of the United States Army Category:Military units and formations established in 1943