86^th Mountain Infantry Regiment

The 86th Mountain Infantry Regiment was activated at Camp Hale, Colorado, on May 1, 1943, assigned to the Mountain Training Center, and later joined the 10th Light Division at Camp Swift. Redesignated the 86th Mountain Infantry Regiment in November 1944, it was the first regiment of the division to reach Italy, arriving on December 23. Before the full division was committed, the regiment entered the line under IV Corps northwest of Pistoia, giving the new mountain formation its first combat experience.

The regiment's most distinctive action came on the night of February 18-19, 1945. Climbing teams from the 1st Battalion, supported by a team from the 2nd Battalion, scaled the Sarasiccia-Campania cliff of Riva Ridge, fixed ropes, and guided the battalion to the crest before dawn. The surprise seizure of the ridge protected the division's left flank and made the attack on Monte Belvedere possible. During that battle, elements of the regiment also protected the right flank near Monte Gorgolesco. After the 85th Mountain Infantry stalled short of Monte della Torraccia, the 3rd Battalion, 86th Mountain Infantry made the final assault and secured the crest on February 24.

In March the 86th Mountain Infantry attacked on the division left and cleared Monte Grande d'Aiano during the second phase west of Highway 64. In the April offensive it attacked through the Rocca Roffeno area, then advanced through Monte Mantino and Montepastore as the German line gave way. After the Po crossing, the regiment formed the core of Task Force Darby in the race toward Verona and Lake Garda. Along the lake's eastern shore it fought through demolished tunnel positions, entered Torbole, outflanked Nago, occupied Riva, and sent patrols north toward Arco as organized German resistance ended. The regiment returned to the United States in August and was inactivated at Camp Carson on November 27, 1945.