History In-Person: 10th Mountain Division

10th Mountain Division: Colorado’s Mountain Soldiers
Two In-Person Sessions
Mon., Mar. 3, 10, 2025, 6:30-8:30 pm MT

They were literally soldiers on skis: the U.S. Army 10th Mountain Infantry Division from WWII fighting in some of the war’s roughest terrain against some of the toughest enemies. Why did the military create the division? Where and how did they train? Where were they deployed and why? How did the division impact Colorado’s outdoor recreation industry? And why did the U.S. create Colorado’s Camp Hale, one of the country’s newest national monuments? Join military historian David Little for the answers and for a stirring summary of the 10th Mountain Division today along with Colorado’s continued military mountaineering legacy. In session one, Little explores the division’s early history and how the U.S. Army built a case for creating the division along with how soldiers were recruited and trained. Then in session two, Little examines the division’s work, deployments, combat and results. Plus, consider its contributions to the post-war army and outdoor recreation in Colorado and elsewhere. As a bonus specifically for this class, enjoy a uniform and equipment display that features hands-on examples of the specialized 10th Mountain Division gear. And note that Little leaves lots of time for discussion and questions and answers. He also offers plenty of reference material for further study that’s available upon request.

David Little has been studying the history of this division for almost 50 years, serving as the historian for the 10th Mountain Division Foundation, Inc. and consulting for National Archives, History Colorado, the U.S. Forest Service, and the U.S. Army Museum System on 10th Mountain and Camp Hale history.