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Importance of Vermont
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"My being born and brought up in Vermont certainly played a role and was actually the complete reason I joined the 10th. Skiing was my one passion and my brother Wendy was already in the 87th. There was no problem. I put in for it- along with three letter of recommendation before I was called up."
"My earliest memories of skiing go back to the late twenties (1928-29). When I was about 4 or 5 years old I had little skis with one hole for a toe strap. We perfected this by using a canning jar or a piece of car tire tube to hold the heel and boot on the ski. We used tree limbs for poles until they came out with bamboo types. When 'Gilbert Ski Tow' opened in Woodstock, VT in 1934 we spent weekends skiing there until 'Suicide Six' and 'Pico' opened. My brother Wendy and I used to ski race all over New England. He won more than I and became a member of the 1940 Olympic Team. War came so they were never held."
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First skiing experience
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I was born and brought up in Bridgewater, VT, and before ski lifts, we use to "climb" in order to come down. We built ramps over stone walls and fences so we could go from the top of Hudson Mtn. In Bridgewater and ski non-stop to my back porch. There were a lot of maple sugar woods with roads and open places and a little bushwacking to get to the bottom. Then we'd stop at Bump's grocery store and then do it all over again. We also ski jumps in the village."
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What was your experience in the 10th like?
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Inducted 6/43 (Camp Evans, MA); Trained at Camp Hale, CO, and Camp Swift, TX. Combat in Italy; wounded; discharged O'Reilly Hospital, MO 2/46. Also in VT National Guard 1942.
"My experience in the 10th was where my life changes forever. It was tough, demanding, regimented, organized, mind and body building training that made a man of you fast. That would be even faster when in combat in Italy.
One of the most unforgettable periods in the 10th was the 'D' series. Some of this training exercise, about 3 weeks or so long, was as taxing on us as was actual fighting in Italy. I wrote a day by day diary of this. I would say the main difference was 'D' series we used blanks instrad of 'live' ammo. I was involved in the taking of Riva Ridge. The end of the war was at Sassamolare, Italy when I was wounded twice and left my squad or…they left me on the side of the hill 3/4/45. Glenn finished off the war o.k."
"I joined the 10th Mountain Division because it was the only outfit in the army that had skiing in it. (my one big 'love') My brother Wendy joined in 1941 and was one of the original cadre in the Mtn. Training Group and original 87th regiment. As soon as I graduated from high school in June 1943, I went to Fort Devens, Mass. And was in Camp Hale in July going through recruit school.
Here I would like to tell of an unusual time and through the war in Italy.
Glenn Woods, Jr. and I grew up together, skied a lot together…although he was a non-competitive skier. We went to Woodstcok High School and graduated in 1943. Previously we spent a year and a half in the Vermont State Guard. We were inducted together. Our serial numbers were two apart as a friend of ours was in line between us. We went to Fort Devens. They saw that we were or had been trained in the VT State Guard. Drill sergeants were in short supply so they put Glenn and I in charge of drilling recruits. Guess we felt pretty important. A group of us were sent to Camp Hale in a few days where I would say 'life began anew'. Glenn and I were never separated from the 1st day in the army until I was wounded in Italy. We were in the same squad and he fixed me when I was wounded. We went to UVM together after the war (class of 1950). He went back in the service, having been in ROTC at UVM. Separation now occurred in our lives but were always in contact. He married while in the service and was discharged after many years in the service. I also married. We got together in VT when possible as he lived in his grandparents house in Bridgewater next to his old home. We both had wonderful families. The Lord chose to separate us in 11/18/2000. My memories are secure."
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