The Winter Army: The World War II Odyssey of the 10th Mountain Division, America’s Elite Alpine Warriors

by Maurice Isserman

WINNER OF THE INTERNATIONAL SKIING HISTORY ASSOCIATION'S ULLR AWARD, the epic story of the US Army’s 10th Mountain Division, whose elite soldiers broke the last line of German defenses in Italy’s mountains in 1945, spearheading the Allied advance to the Alps and final victory.

At the start of World War II, the US Army had two cavalry divisions—and no mountain troops. The German Wehrmacht, in contrast, had many well-trained and battle-hardened mountain divisions, some of whom by 1943 blocked the Allied advance in the Italian campaign. Starting from scratch, the US Army developed a unique military fighting force, the 10th Mountain Division, drawn from the ranks of civilian skiers, mountaineers, and others with outdoor experience. The resulting mix of Ivy League students, park rangers, Olympic skiers, and European refugees formed the first specialized alpine fighting force in US history. By the time it deployed to Italy at the beginning of 1945, this ragtag group had coalesced into a tight-knit unit. In the months that followed, at a terrible cost, they spearheaded the Allied drive in Italy to final victory.

Ranging from the ski slopes of Colorado to the towering cliffs of the Italian Alps, The Winter Army is a saga of an unlikely band of soldiers forged in the heat of combat into a brotherhood whose legacy lives on in US mountain fighters to this day.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World War II, War, Military History, Military Fiction, Audiobook

352 pages, Paperback

First published November 5, 2019

About the author

Maurice Isserman received a B.A. in history from Reed College in 1973 and his Ph.D. in American history from the University of Rochester in 1979. He is Publius Virgilius Rogers Professor of American History at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York.

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

“…one has to live the life of a ground force soldier to realize how rotten war is.”

THE WINTER ARMY is not a book that grabbed me, but it did not bore me. I was fine with it and it’s not that long, so I enjoyed the read.

The first half of the book is dedicated to the creation and training of the 10th Mountain Division in the early days of WW II. It is mostly interesting, and a lot of the training took place at Camp Hale, which was in an area of Colorado where I have family, so I was familiar with many of the mountains and locales mentioned.

The 10th Division did not go to Europe until December of 1944, so the part of the text where they were actively engaged is not that long. However, the author makes it quite clear that it is not the amount of time spent in a war zone that matters, but the intensity of the events while there. The 10th may have only seen four months of action, but Italy was intense in those four months. Consider this excerpt- “Just 4 months and one week separated the arrival of the first regiment of the 10th in Naples on Christmas Eve from the moment when the Germans surrendered the day after May Day. “Our stint in combat was short,” William Lowell Putnam would write, “though frightening severe.” In terms of the percentage killed per day in combat, the 10th suffered the highest casualty rate of any US division in the Italian campaign.”

The author, Maurice Isserman, uses a lot of primary sources and personal stores in this text. A nice touch is that a lot of the soldiers he pulls out for mention, we also get to know what happened to them. He keeps us informed of their deaths, or postwar activities if they survived. It gives the reader a feeling of completeness that I appreciated.

Quotes:
• “The best way of avenging thyself, Marcus Aurelius argued, is to not become like the wrong-doer.”
• “Trauma, guilt, and regret were also among the souvenirs packed home by the veterans in 1945.”

I’m sure there are more engaging books on the 10th Mountain Division, but Mr. Isserman writes with a respect and reverence, and an obvious love for history that it blots out any of the text’s flaws. I close with one of the final thoughts of the book. “The views from Riva Ridge and Mount Belvedere (battlefields of the 10th) today are of a beautiful and peaceable landscape in an imperfect, but better world.”

[Katie B · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I knew a little bit about the 10th Mountain Division's history having lived on Fort Drum when my husband was in the military, but this book certainly gave me a lot more insight. This book covers the time period in which the unit essentially got its start specializing in mountain and winter warfare. Much of the focus of the book is on the time spent fighting in Italy during World War 2.

One of the more fascinating things I took away from the book was basically skiers were the ones who suggested to the government it might be a good idea to start training soldiers in other places besides warm climates. It just seems like such an obvious thing but yeah up until that point the U.S. military wasn't really prepared to go fight a war on difficult terrain such as mountains. It was also interesting that many of the lower enlisted soldiers who joined the military with more of a winter type background were more experienced than the higher ups who were sent to the unit.

The training was absolutely demanding and excruciating. And of course it wasn't helped by the fact the soldiers were given just plain old standard issue tents that weren't geared toward harsh environments. Even after soldiers complained what does the government do?, why order 40,000 more of the darn things! Pretty sad the soldiers found alternatives such as digging snow caves and igloos to be slightly better options.

For me I enjoyed more the small tidbits of information I picked up rather than the strategic parts of the unit's fighting in Italy. It's pretty wild to find out that the ski industry really kicked into high gear after the war and the army sold off tons of ski equipment at a huge discount to civilians. And even though 10th Mountain wasn't located at Fort Drum until decades later, it's nice that some of the soldiers from the World War 2 are still remembered such as John D. Magrath who has a gym named after him on post.

If you are a military history buff I'm sure you will find this book to be well-researched and a good read. I'm certainly glad I read it even if it wasn't the most compelling nonfiction book I have ever read. Recommend if you enjoy World War 2 nonfiction or are interested in 10th Mountain Division history.

I was sent an advance reader's copy by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Alexw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic non-fiction book of the World War 2,US 10th Mountian division where they were first division to learn how to ski and then went up the boot in Italy. The tremendous training they went through and the loses they sustained in the war were staggering.
When they returned, the men started the ski area of Aspen, Vail and Big Mountain in Montana.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Over twenty years ago I met Floyd Erickson, born in the Upper Penninsula Michigan. During WWII Floyd served in the 10th Mountain Division. His life-altering experience under fire on Mt. Belvedere was legendary; everyone knew of his bargain with God which led to his becoming a well-beloved patriarch of the church.

I recall how Floyd, still trim, proudly donned his uniform to join his fellow soldiers at a reunion. And the stories his wife Elizabeth told of how Floyd supported his large U.P. family and the alteration in his character when he returned from war.

Maurice Isserman quotes Floyd in his history of the 10th Mountain Division, The Winter Army, in the chapter concerning the Allied invasion of Kiska. After months of training in extreme conditions, the Army was uncertain of what to do with this 'winter army' of men trained for mountain snow and ice. Their first deployment was to oust the Japanese from Kiska in the Aleutian archipelago.

"It was a terrible night, that first one," Floyd said, recalling the twelve-hour ascent carrying his gear and machine gun ammunition, then digging a foxhole in the pouring rain. The Americans did not know that the Japanese army had already abandoned Kiska. Nineteen mountain troopers died from 'friendly fire'. It was a demoralizing blow.

Isserman narrates the history of this legendary division with details drawn from oral histories that bring the story to life.

Toward the end of the war, the 10th Mountain was sent to the Italian Alps. They were there to keep the German army busy. Climbing the iced mountains, crossing the open Po Valley the Po River, and the final battle was horrific.

Floyd saw his best friend killed in action and suffered permanent hearing loss from a blast.

Isserman's book focuses on the extraordinary men, the "mix of Ivy League students, park rangers, Olympic skiers, and European refugees," who "formed the first specialized alpine fighting force in US history."

After the war, these men impacted the ski industry. One became the first executive director of the Sierra Club; another co-found The Village Voice. One co-founded Nike; another became a renowned historian. And there was Bob Dole, US senator, and presidential candidate.

And there were men like Floyd, an ardent skier from a small town with a large impoverished family, a good man whose life was dedicated to his family and church and community.

I was given access to a free book by the publisher through NetGalley. My review is fair and unbiased.

[gotta read more · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I liked this book. It is a little slow in the first half. You keep waiting for the book to get to fighting but the 10th didn’t really spend a lot of time doing that. I feel like the book really redeems itself in the last quarter. If you like military history then I’m sure you will find this book quite interesting.

[Alexander Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fine collection of 1st accounts through historical press clippings and letters. But rather dull in progression.

[Thom · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fairly complete history of the 10th Mountain division, the US "ski troops" from WWII. This book was referenced in one I recently read about the Finnish Winter War, which partly inspired the creation of this corps.

This history spends a lot of time on the logistics of creation and the training in Colorado at more than a mile of altitude (problematic - no battles were ever fought that high, and altitude sickness caused plenty of problems). In addition to skiing, they also trained for mountain climbing, which was somewhat used during the war.

The latter portion of the book covers front-line combat, including adding troops to this division with no actual mountain training. They saw a lot of service in the oft-forgotten Italian campaign, but were mostly underutilized for their specialty. Their greatest impact may have been after the war, contributing to recreational skiing through being instructors and helping found destinations like Aspen and Vail.

Thoroughly researched, but the story was rough in a few patches. A good history with interesting tidbits (e.g. Bob Dole joined the 10th as a reinforcement and was wounded in action). Contains several pictures and a few maps.

[Peter Schmeltzer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story, but Isserman is no Ambrose

[Isaac · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the story however this book is dense to get though

[Richard O'Neal · Rating 1 out of 5]

No story. Just rambling information about everything tangentially aligned with the topic. Only thing missing is the BMs each individual mentioned had.

[Heidi Rasmussen · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Travel teaches tolerance and respect for other people, for their heritage, and their practices," Harris told his college alumni magazine shortly before his death in 2015 at age 101. "It made me realize that humanity is really one community on the surface of the earth, and it's a community of equals, at least in terms of who we are as human beings."

[Small Fry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being from one of the mountain towns founded by 10th Mountain veterans it is highly glamorized here. This book is a good reminder of the personal sacrifice the troops gave.

[Dylan Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

Friend is in the 10th so had to get it

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My husband and I listened to this on a long drive and found the "origin story" for the 10th Mountain to be so interesting. My favorite part of the book was that we got to hear the story in the words of the soldiers. We met many of them and I found myself mourning the loss of each one as if it had happened recently instead of 76 years ago. We owe these tough men and the men of their generation so much.

[Anne Dillon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read especially if interested in WWII and founders of places like Vail/Aspen. Always good when I read a non fiction book teaching me something.

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book covers the origins of the 10th Mountain Division and it's role in fighting in Italy in World War II. It was formed based on outsiders convincing the Army that it needed troops trained for warfare in the mountains versus just training in warm weather climates. The first half of the book covers the establishment of the division and the second half covers their role in the battles that took place in Italy. It is well documented and written in a style that is easy to read and follow. Of interest is the incorporation of excerpts of letters from the individuals in the division back to home during their training and the war.

I recommend this book to anyone who is a history or World War II fan and has an interest in reading about a division that has not beed extensively documented in other books on the period.

I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog. I also posted it to my Facebook  page.

[Peter Goodman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Winter Army: the World War II odyssey of the 10th Mountain Division, America’s elite Alpine warriors,” by Maurice Isserman (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2019). I had always heard of the 10th Mountain Division—sort of. Just the name itself sticks in one’s mind. But what was it, and what did it do? Here is one story where the subtitle works: the history of the division was indeed an odyssey. It took years to build, it went through vicissitudes before getting into the war, and then the fighting was sharp but short, and the division was done. It began when four skiers sitting around a fireplace in Vermont imagined, first, the nightmare of Nazi ski troops swooping down from Canada into the naked northern states, and then, the creation of a unit of American skiers who could fight off the invaders. Skiing was an exotic sport for rich people and mountaineers. Who could be in this division? Rich young men from Ivy League schools, and tough mountain climbers from the West. In some ways, the division resembled Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders: sportsmen and outdoorsmen---though TR’s troopers looked at it as a bit of a lark. Gradually the Defense Department acceded to the idea of creating first one, then two, then three mountain regiments. Camps were found in the Rockies (one was in a natural bowl that held in all the coal smoke from the barracks and made the place almost unlivable). Training was intense—long, sometimes dayslong treks through the winter woods, carrying rifles and 90-pound packs. The men trained and trained and began to despair of ever being used. Men began to transfer out, to the airborne divisions just to get into action. Where was the division going to be used? At one point they thought the mountains of Burma (what was the point of all that cold weather training)? Finally, in the winter of 1945, the division was sent to Italy, where the Allied offensives were stalled at the foothills of the Alps by stubborn and skilled German resistance. The 10th was the next to the last American division sent into the war. At first they had considered using horses, but the animals sank into the snow; so the troops were supplied with mules. Eventually they made it to the front lines, before a mountain formation known as Riva Ridge, with Belvedere Mountain looming over all. Two previous assaults had failed. But the 10th, with very careful planning and cautious preparations, made a series of surprise, nighttime assaults and carried Belvedere almost before the Germans knew they were there. Then followed a series of equally successful attacks, clearing the mountains of the enemy and finally entering the Po Valley, breaking through the German front completely. There were days of fierce fighting with heavy casualties, but they inflicted grievous damage on the German troops. The Germans were already softening—the Yanks captured a lot of prisoners. Wehrmacht Gen. Albert Kesselring, whose superb command had held up the Allies for a year, acknowledged that the 10th Mountain was among the best, if not the best American unit he faced. But did they ski? No. There weren’t really opportunities for it. they climbed mountains, they traveled through the woods, they were in excellent physical shape. Most of their exploits were overshadowed by events in France, Germany and Russia, but the division gave a very good account of itself. Then the war was over, and it was disbanded. Isserman gives an exceptionally detailed and clear description of the division, using the troops’ letters and interviews as well as the official documents. Rather than the standard military maps, there is a series of hand-drawn maps by Amand Cassini. One thing that I enjoyed was reading about the places in Vermont where the meetings and planning took place, al the ski areas I have visited (even Alta, way up in Utah).

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[William Troy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of the origin and creation of the 10th Mountain Infantry Division. Not surprisingly it was not an innovative idea by Army theoreticians conceptualizing how to fight the upcoming war. It was the brain child of four civilian skiers over hot rum at the Orvis Inn in Manchester, Vermont in February 1940. Robert Langley, Robert Livermore, Alex Bright and Charles Minot "Minnie" Dole were influential skiers. Langley was president of the National Ski Association of America. Livermore and Bright were members of the 1936 US Olympic Ski Team and Minnie Dole was the director of the National Ski Patrol System. They were aware of the actions of the Finnish ski troops fighting the Russians and thought that the US was unprepared to fight in the mountains of the US or any other country if necessary. The four began their quest to persuade the US Army to create a mountain force. Of the four, Minnie Dole was the most persistent and finally got a audience with General George Marshall. Marshall tipped the scales and directed that the Army create the 1st Battalion (Reinforced) 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment (originally Infantry Mountain Regiment but that nomenclature was confusing) on November 15, 1941. Dole and the others were asked to help with recruiting and advice on equipment and training.
The unit's original training base was Fort Lewis, Washington but that area did not have the terrain needed to adequately train the organization. A new facility called Camp Hale was established in the Colorado Rockies. The unit trained there from 1943 through their deployment to the European Theater in 1944 with the exception of some training at Camp Swift, Texas. The unit increased in size adding the 85th and 86th Regiments and sundry support units like mountain artillery and mule trains and was finally designate the 10th Mountain Infantry Division.
Training was physically tough and mentally demanding. The soldiers began to wonder if they would ever be deployed. Some began to request transfers to fighting units. The 87th was deployed to the operation in the Aleutians and suffered casualties from fratricide and booby traps. That was pretty demoralizing. They engaged no enemy. Finally the Division was deployed to Italy in December 1944. It was the last division deployed to Italy. Always Forward was the Division's motto and the direction by its Commanding General George P. Hays. It lived up to this motto, never giving up territory it captured and always advancing!
The unit tested new ski, mountain climbing equipment, clothing. It fostered the experience of leisure skiing after the war. 10th Division veterans developed Aspen and many other ski resorts. A few things to note though were that the Division never attacked on skis. It did more mountain climbing though not to the extent trained. The replacements who joined the unit did not have the mountain climbing and skiing instruction that the original members of the division had received. The physical training and mental preparation that leaders and soldiers had helped them overcome many obstacles. It also fought for the shortest period in Italy against German and Italian units that were depleted however many German Generals specifically highlighted the fighting ability of the 10th Mountain Division. This is a great read!

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

History Professor Maurice Isserman provides a fascinating chronicle of the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division, formed at the outset of World War II to serve as an alpine fighting force. Drawing largely from the soldiers' letters, diaries, and memoirs now housed in the 10th Mountain Division Archive at the Denver Public Library, Isserman brings the 10th to life from the inside.

Initial recruits were drawn from the ranks of championship skiers and mountain climbers, and they trained in the mountains of the American West. Isserman offers a treasure trove of engrossing information about how the army learned to equip and feed men for mountain warfare.

Although the skills of the 10th weren’t always used in actual combat, the men were able to draw upon their alpine training in the peaks of the North Apennines in Italy, where they moved “always forward” (their informal motto) to help drive the Germans from the Italian war theater. Isserman reports that “in terms of the percentage killed per day in combat, the 10th suffered the highest casualty rate of any US division in the campaign,” impressing both their American superiors and their German opponents with their skill and ferocity.

History buffs will delight in the way the 10th took Riva Ridge in the Apennines, using the same logic and techniques as the daring and unexpected ascent of the cliffs over the city of Quebec in 1759 by the British during the French and Indian War. There is pretty much never a dull moment in this account.

When the war was over, the surviving veterans of the 10th had no less interesting lives. Some of them went on to play leading roles in the outdoor winter sports industry. Isserman explains that “literally thousands of 10th veterans were employed one way or another, in the postwar ski industry,” whether as coaches, instructors, ski resort operators [both Aspen and Vail were developed as ski resorts by veterans], or ski equipment designers and promoters.
One veteran, told he would never walk again from his injuries in Italy, came to Aspen, resumed skiing, and in 1948 finished third in the giant slalom event at the US national ski competition. He and other veterans developed Vail, with ski runs named after men and events from the wartime experience of the 10th Division. "Riva Ridge" is one of the more challenging black diamond runs at the Vail Ski Resort today.

Evaluation: This unique and inspiring fighting force deserves to be better known. In addition to sharing their history, Isserman also includes a number of valuable insights from a wider perspective, such as about the role of momentum in war that can drive campaigns regardless of rational calculation; the importance of camaraderie in compensating for deficiencies in wartime; what “really” goes on under fire versus media accounts for the home audience; the rude awakening about the costs of war for the young men focused on adventure; and the sometimes selfish motives of the generals who determine their fate. The book excels as sports history as well. Photos and maps are included. I enjoyed it thoroughly!

[Nathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This audiobook was well-researched and full of interesting tidbits and stories about the 10th Mountain Division's history and development, but it didn't quite grab my interest in a way for me to give it 4 stars.

A few points of interest:
- the history of Vibram (waffle-stomper) soles in Part 2.
- Robert Bates helped develop equipment used by the 10th in his service with the Army's Quartermaster General's office. Bates later was part of the 1st American expedition to K2 in 1938, and again on one in 1953, where he was part of the group effort to save an ill Art Gilkey and whose group was all saved by the strength of one Pete Schoening and Shoening's remarkable strength. Bates was later made an honorable member of the 10th. (part 2 + some Wikipedia)
- The Battle of Attu was second only to Iwo Jima in the Pacific campaign in the cost of American lives in terms of a percentage of the force sent to capture the island. 549 Americans died in the Battle. This Battle led several ranking Army officers to realize the importance of alpine-style troops, which would later be used in the European theatre. (part 4)
- A few months after Attu, the 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment landed on Kiska, where a number of troops were killed by friendly fire, not knowing the Japanese had abandoned the island. One of those killed was Wilfred J. Funk, who had been president of Funk & Wagnalls, a publishing company that published dictionaries and encyclopedias. Wilfred had also helped carve the presidential faces on Mt. Rushmore. (part 4)
- A group of men from the 10th took a few days off to make the first winter ascent of Mt. Elbert and Mt. Massive in CO. (part 5)
- Sgt. Werner von Trapp of the famed von Trapp family from the Sound of Music, served in the 10th Mtn. Division and became a naturalized citizen while serving. On one occasion in Italy, von Trapp overheard some German troops discussing their plans to assault his unit. He alerted his company and beat back the assault. The Americans held the hill. von Trapp became a dairy farmer after WWII. (part 9)
- Champion skier and Austrian-born Freidl Pfeifer served in the 10th's Italian campaign, where he was wounded and told he would die by army doctors, survived and along with other 10th veterans, helped turn Aspen into a ski town. (Epilogue)

[Janene · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

The world is falling into WWII, and American military leaders are beginning to realize something. It's likely they will be sending soldiers to impossible terrains, at least when compared to any battlefronts they've labored on before. Borders of nations often follow the line of a mountain ridge. Italy and France are invaded, their territories threatened. A different kind of recruitment is needed and begins to take shape. In the words of Charles 'Minnie' Dole, president of the National Ski Patrol, "it is more reasonable to make soldiers out of skiers, than skiers out of soldiers."

This is the story of these soldier skiers. They served only a short time, from Christmas Eve to 1944 to Germany's surrender of Italy on May 2, 1945. Their role was crucial and I enjoyed learning about this small piece of a global conflict. They were the last division to be sent to Italy. Their time was short but severe and they had the highest percentage of loss for the amount of time in the entire Italian campaign.

The role these men played, post war, in the growth of winter sport recreation was significant. They wanted to teach the country to ski, and they did! Thousands of 10th veterans were employed in the ski industry, most as instructors. I love this! I'm sure some of them are on my Utah mountains right now!

Something weird about this book is the length of chapters varied so widely. Overall, a good listen!
One of a few favorite passages, most of which were quotes and not written by the author himself. :)

The failure of Kiska, a pointless and tragic operation
"Did any of those pictures in LIFE show how we lived in Kiska? Did they show the food we ate? Did they show the boys being blown sky high by booby traps and landmines? Did the stories tell that the fog was so dense that we shot and killed our own men as they loomed out of the fog? There were no Japs there, so they don't show the graves of our boys. But I have friends buried on Kiska. No, you can't rely on the papers, movies, radio, etc. One has to see first hand the horrible waste of war.... the bungling, red tape, inefficient management. One has to live the life of a ground force soldier to realize how rotten war is." (Chapter 4)

[Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

In his book "The Winter Army", Maurice Isserman describes the brief history of the U.S. 10th Mountain Division in WW II.  The idea for creating an alpine fighting unit within the Army was based on skills noted in Scandinavian armed forces, and how they used their mountain climbing and skiing expertise while fighting in northern Europe.  There was a recognition that U.S. fighting forces might face similar terrains, and there was no equivalent army units within the U.S. military.  When the unit was initially formed, the Army initially sought out proficient skiers and trained them to be soldiers rather than taking everyday soldiers and trying to make them proficient climbers and skiers.  
While the unit developed the desired skills early in World War II, they remained stateside for most of the war since their mountain expertise wasn't required on Pacific islands or in most of the European or North African theaters.  So while awaiting deployment where their snow and mountain experience was needed, they spent most of their time training and re-training at their Colorado mountain base.  As a result, much of the book describes the 10th Mountain Divisions training, and about the most important and most interesting personnel in the Unit.  
When finally deployed to northern Italy late in the war, The Mountain Division experienced only about 45 days of fighting.  They fought bravely, always advancing, and suffered many casualties, but soon the war in Europe was over.  
Much of the source material apparently was derived from the Mountain Division historical records and from an accumulation of archived letters from Division members.  The book does contain some interesting stories about the survivors and their history after the war, not only of former Kansas Senator and Presidential candidate Bob Dole, but also of others who kick-started the ski industry in the U.S., or became Olympic athletes and coaches, sport equipment company founders and executives, etc. 

[Patrick DOC Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a soldier of the 10th Mountain Division (c. 1986-1994). Served in the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry and was in the first infantry Battalion to activate on Ft. Drum in 1986. Our training was grueling and was some of the toughest I'd experience in my over 20 years of service. Over our first year of "train up" we spent over 225 combined days in the field or deployed learning our tasks as infantrymen in the 10th Mountain Division. Other units after seeing our patch for the first time, often asked who we were. Every time we were evaluated by other units, they were amazed at our physical and mental strengths. Many were impressed at how much we carried on our back and still accomplishing our missions. Earning my "Mountain" tab was the proudest moment in my military career. The tab was part of our patch, but it had to be earned by each soldier during training and deployments. My time in the 10th Mountain would be followed by assignments with the Rangers and Special Operations. My time with the 10th made me a much better soldier during the rest of my career. No where else did we do 100 mile road marches in the Summer with our equipment. That was a given, every year at Ft. Drum with the 1/22 Infantry (Regulars By God). As the first soldiers of the 10th Mountain detected in this book, I know how it feels to be molded into a team by being part of this historic military unit. We saw combat in Somalia and in many other places as a "Mountain" unit and as the soldiers in this book became the much needed warriors of their time, so did we during my time as a 10th Mountain Division soldier.

[Louis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maurice Isserman's The Winter Army: The World War II Odyssey of the 10th Mountain Division, America's Elite Alpine Warriors is the remarkable story of the creation of the 10th Mountain Division during World War II.

The origins lie in, what at the time, seemed like a crazy idea conceived in a ski lodge. However, eventually the idea eventually gained sufficient political traction to become reality and Camp Hale, the training base, was built in less than a year. Members of this elite unit endured high altitude and unpredictable weather in their training as well as uncertainty about whether they would be put to use.

When the unit was first put into action in the Aleutian Islands, the results including tragic deaths from friendly fire. The unit’s time spent in combat was relatively short-lived—they were sent to Italy relatively late in the war—but sustained substantial casualties in the process. However, those that survived and came home went in a number of different directions, including most notably, establishing the modern ski industry.

I had a tangential idea of the 10th Mountain Division from venturing to mountain huts in the Colorado hut system that commemorates its legacy. However, I never really appreciated the full history and legacy until I read this book.

[Paul Henry · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Winter Army" is a good unit history of the 10th Mountain Division; lots of detail (sometimes too much to my mind as I got bogged down with names, units, Italian geographical locations), lots of great pictures. The Mauldin cartoons still ring true, at least to anyone who has served. There are a number of maps, several of which I found totally indecipherable (hardcover edition p186-187). To my mind it should have been reworked to more closely resemble the map on p223 which is a definite pictorial addition to the narrative of the battle. I've always questioned the strategy of the entire Italian campaign and especially the last year when it was plain the Germans were losing the war and negotiations were underway to surrender the German army in Italy. The author delves into the question of strategy, concluding the decision to push on until surrender was correct. My primary criticism of the book is the photo on P150, ostensibly showing MG Hayes and COL Tomlinson shaking hands. The caption indicates Hayes (right) but the guy on the left is wearing two stars, the rank of the guy on the right indeterminable but possiby the eagle of a full colonel. So either someone just misidentified the men, or the negative got flipped during publication, or it's entirely the wrong caption. Errors like this just shouldn't happen; makes the reader wonder about the attention to detail paid to the entire book. Cost one star to my rating.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Professor Isserman has written a thoroughly researched and well-written history of the 10th Mountain Division. The skier-soldiers of the the 10th possessed outstanding intelligence and skills and were among the finest. They faced rigorous training near Vail Colorado, a poorly understood mission against the Japanese in Alaska and were on the sidelines when the war in Europe entered its final phase in June 1944. In late 1944, they were transported to Italy and were part of the mountain campaign that led to the defeat of Germany and Italy near the end of the war in Europe. They faced almost certain transfer to Japan which would have happened if the war there had continued after August of 1945. Their missions were difficult and their casualties were high. They were mountain soldiers and skier soldiers; they were not flat land soldiers. Professor Isserman's scholarly work is an important contribution to preserving the stories of the men of the 10th Mountain Division.

One of their stories recorded by Professor Isserman belongs to PFC John D. Magrath, born on the 4th of July and died 21 years later on April 14, 1945 in performing fearless and courageous service to his fellow soldiers. McGrath is the only member of the 10th who was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor and his story can be read in Professor Isserman's book and at cmohs.org.

Thank you to Professor Isserman for this interesting and important book.

JIM

[David Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book covers the 10th Mountain Division from it's inception to disbandment. The unit saw action in the Aleutian Islands and in the last four months of the Italian campaign.

I don't normally read these unit history types of books, but this one interested me because of their training in Camp Hale here in Colorado.

The division made it to the war a bit late but performed quite well. It was originally envisioned that they'd be somewhat like the ski troopers the Finns fielded in the Winter War against the Soviet Union. It didn't quite turn out that way; in the end, their training in rock climbing was much more important than ski training. And by the time they were deployed, the specialization was beginning to be diluted by replacements who lacked the specialized training. This should not be a surprise: the military generally desires generalization over specialization. Soldiers are stripped of their individuality during basic training, becoming interchangeable parts. It is much the same for units, other than a short list of exceptions.

The book is drawn mostly from the vast trove of letters by the soldiers, along with some official history documents. There are sufficient maps included to make it easier to follow the action, and the text is pretty clear and easy to read.

Includes endnotes, index, and many photos, but no bibliography.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I live in Denver, Colorado, so when I found this book, I certainly wanted to read it. I've been to Camp Hale, recently made a national monument by President Biden: Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument. I've been there and toured it with students. Now I know so much more from this fascinating and detailed history by Maurice Isserman. From its beginnings with a few men, veteran skiers sitting around a table at a Vermont Country Inn in 1940 discussed the war, and the latest news about the Finnish soldiers holding back the invaders. Those soldiers "knew" how to fight in the mountains! Thus began a seed of something they thought the United States would need and should have, soldiers trained in mountain warfare. It's a fascinating history, including all the bumps, the horrors, and the triumphs that the 10th Mountain Division holds in its history. Descendants continue to gather. In fact, the latest one is the week, starting on Wednesday. The webpage of the group is here! If you like historical reading about World War II, this is a fascinating history, There's a poignant afterword and many, many notes at the back.

[James Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had always heard of the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division, but never knew anything about it. Well, thanks to this new book by American History professor Maurice Isserman, I'm now aware of the amazing role this unique unit played during World War II. Mountain warfare units were nothing new; the German Wehrmacht had several of them. However, it took much persuading by mountaineering and skiing enthusiasts to get the Army leadership to create the three regiments that were incorporated into the 10th Mountain Division. And the division proved its worth from its arrival in Italy in late 1944 to the German surrender in May 1945. The German general whose units fought the GIs of the 10th found them to be formidable opponents. The book is a fascinating account of the 10th Mountain Division, from its stateside organization and training to its Italian baptism of fire. If you enjoy reading works of military history, give "The Winter Army: The World War II Odyssey of the 10th Mountain Division, America's Elite Alpine Warriors" a look.

[Kevin Brubaker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed review. The first half of the book is a fascinating story of the creation and training of the 10th Mountain Division. It describes blue blood athletes volunteering to create an American division of "alpine warriors" and Army bureaucrats resisting anything new.

Much of the second half, though, devolves to standard military history. It is littered with inscrutable sentences like "At he same time, the 85th Infantry Division (the 85th was a reserve division reassigned from II to IV Corps, and not to be confused with the 10ths own 85th Regiment) and would take the 1st Armored Division's place on the 10ths right flank and continue the push up Highway 64." A few clear maps (not the reprint of old ones that were included) would have done wonders.

At the end, the author remembers his general interest audience with a wonderful reflection on how the veterans of the Mountain Division built the American outdoor industry from scratch and deliberately transformed dying mining towns in the West into America's premier ski resorts.