History on skis: Edwards students enjoy two-day lesson from Chris Anthony vaildaily.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from vaildaily.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Because of its unique mission, recruiting for the 10th Mountain Division during World War II focused on experienced skiers and mountaineers, but soon the demand for them exceeded the supply. The Army began assigning soldiers to the 10th without any background in the mountains, and Cruz Rios became one of them. A native of Colton, Calif., a small town near San Bernardino, he enlisted in 1943 and was sent to Camp Hale randomly after basic training.
Because of its unique mission, recruiting for the 10th Mountain Division during World War II focused on experienced skiers and mountaineers, but soon the demand for them exceeded the supply. The Army began assigning soldiers to the 10th without any background in the mountains, and Cruz Rios became one of them. A native of Colton, Calif., a small town near San Bernardino, he enlisted in 1943 and was sent to Camp Hale randomly after basic training.
“Winter Warriors: The 10th Mountain Division in World War II” is the first exhibit set in History Colorado’s new marquee gallery, and it was designed with the assumption that World War II may seem like ancient history to those born after the baby boom generation.
New exhibit at History Colorado: The saga of the 10th Mountain Division "ski troops" who trained for mountain warfare at Camp Hale near Leadville during World War II, and their subsequent combat heroism in northern Italy, has been told many times through movies and books. The Colorado Snowsports Museum in Vail has helped keep their memories alive for five decades with artifacts, dioramas, photos and films, in part because 10th Mountain veterans helped found dozens of U.S. ski areas after the war including Arapahoe Basin, Aspen and Vail.