10th Mountain DIVISION - Mountaineers

Activated 15 Jul 1943  •  Entered Combat 8 Jan 1945 North Appennines  •  Days of Combat 114  •  Casualties 4,072

DIVISION CHRONICLE

The 10th Mountain Division saw its first actual combat in Italy, although previously the 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment had participated in the assault landing on Kiska, 15-17 August 1943, only to find the island completely deserted by the Japanese. Elements of the Division began arriving in Italy in late December 1944, and after a brief training period entered combat, 8 January 1945, near Cutigliano and Orsigna. Preliminary defensive actions were followed, 19 February 1945, by a concerted attack on the Silla-Mount Belvedere sector, and the peak was cleared after several days of heavy fighting. In early March the Division fought its way north of Canolle, taking several more peaks, and moving to within 15 miles of Bologna. Maintaining defensive positions for the neat 3 weeks, the Division jumped off again in April, captured Mongiorgio, 20 April, and entered the Po Valley, seizing the strategic points, Pradalbino and Bomporto. The 10th crossed the Po River, 23 April, reached Verona, 25 April, and ran into heavy opposition at Torbole and Nago. After an amphibious crossing of Lake Garda, it secured Gargnano and Porto di Tremosine, 30 April, as German resistance in Italy ended. After the Germans surrender in Italy, 2 May 1945, the Division went on security duty, receiving the surrender of various German units and screening the areas of occupation.