NEW BOOK GIVES 10TH ITS PLACE AMONG the ELITE Douglas R

PUBLISHED BY AND FOR THE SOLDIERS OF THE 10TH MOUNTAIN DIVISION VOLUME 38 2009 NUMBER 2 NEW BOOK GIVES 10TH ITS PLACE AMONG THE ELITE Douglas R. Cubbison Fred Pushies, 10th Mountain Division, modern Light Infantry Division; and the Minneapolis, MI: Zenith Press, 2008. Pa- current organization of the Division, with perback, 127 pages, photographs, maps, four BCTs (Brigade Combat Teams) to glossary, index. Recommended price include one at Fort Polk, LA. Other sec- $19.99 U.S. tions of the book discuss the weapons The 10th Mountain Division is the and helicopters that the Division em- most recent publication in a series by ploys. Although most soldiers will be in- Zenith Press on elite units of the U.S. timately familiar with the information Armed Forces. With this book, the Divi- provided in these two sections, civilians sion takes its rightful place alongside and family members will find them to be such elite organizations as the Navy interesting, informative and well written; SEALs and Marine Force Recon. As with and they provide an excellent introduc- Veterans placing wreath at the grave of Burdell Winter (85-M). other books in this series, the volume is tion to the equipment that Mountain sol- an attractive, large format paperback. The diers work with every day. paper is high quality with a glossy finish; The remainder of the book provides a SEMPRE ITALIA IS IN THE BOOKS it contains several maps, and a liberal comprehensive discussion of the Moun- number of photographs. The photographs tain Division’s participation in the Global AND IN MEMORIES OF TRAVELERS are spectacularly reproduced in high reso- War on Terror, with excellent but succinct Steve Coffey (Desc 87-F) lution and vivid colors. discussions of the Division’s service in The book begins with a brief introduc- Afghanistan and Iraq, with numerous The first descendant-planned return to Our visit to the Florence American tion to the 10th Mtn. Div. of World War first-person accounts, and gloriously il- Italy is now in the books and we’re happy Cemetery was beautifully handled by the II, recounting the initial organization by lustrated with numerous photographs. to report there were no major injuries, ill- ABMC staff. We were privileged to have the National Ski Patrol; its rigorous train- Several Mountain troopers will find nesses, lost children, or international inci- several special guests including Consul ing at Camp Hale, Colorado; and its ac- themselves prominently featured! dents (well, there may have been one but General Mary Ellen Countryman from complishments in the mountains of The Zenith Press books are not intend- we never actually heard a crash). Other the U.S. Consulate in Florence, the Presi- North Italy in the Spring of 1945. The ed to be scholarly or academic studies, than issues with the weather here, there dent of the Florentine Alpini Dr. Eugenio book then provides the history of the and do not contain notes or a bibliogra- and seemingly everywhere forcing a few Romoli, and a USAF active duty color phy. However, the text is well changes to the itinerary, all went general- guard who drove all the way from Aviano written and easily understood, ly according to the plan. I must thank In- AB to be with us. and the first-person stories in tertrav, our guides and expert drivers for It turns out that what I thought was the particular are exciting and fas- all of their help, John Duffy for keeping new idea of our group placing the flowers cinating. This eye-catching us on the straight and narrow, our bus on each 10th Mtn. Div. soldier’s grave, book provides an excellent captains Pat Thornton, Denise Taylor and was in fact actually a revival of an old overview of the 10th Mtn. Div. Don Perkins for their attentiveness along practice which only added meaning to the Veterans of the Division and the way, and of course our many, many event. In any event, the group visited, family members will find the good friends in Italy. Due to the deadline placed a flower, and took a picture of each book to be of particular inter- for this Blizzard coming on the heels of and every 10th soldier’s marker. est. Newly-assigned soldiers our return, particularly of the extension Another important event on the sched- who want to explain to their trip, you will find trip-related articles and ule was the dedication of the new memo- families the proud lineage and pictures in both this and the next issue. rial to PFC John Magrath on Hill 909 and current service of the Division Statistics first: when the trip finally the site of his actions that earned him the will find this book an easily kicked off in May we had 111 travelers Medal of Honor. The memorial was the affordable gift that will as- along for the ride. They ranged in age vision and work of our good friend Gio- sume a place of honor in any from the youngest at 2 years (Sammy vanni Sulla. We again had an active duty home. The book is a beautiful Maitin, grand-nephew of Gene Gianno- color guard, this time U.S. Army from product and comes highly bile (85-K), to the most senior at 90, (Art SETAF (Southern European Task Force), recommended. Schimke (87K). The Bob Emerson (604- including some former 10th LI soldiers. Douglas R. Cubbison, for- FA) family took the prize for the largest For more on this ceremony and the monu- mer 10th Mtn. Div. Historian, and most well behaved contingent with 18 ment, please see the related article and is now with U.S. Army Combat family members. We had 16 veterans, photo in this issue by David Ware. Studies Institute, Ft. Leaven- seven wives and widows and four friends As a key to our future vision, Pat worth, Kansas. of the 10th, also generally well behaved. (Continued on Page 15) PAGE 2 BLIZZARD 2009 NUMBER 2 PRESIDENT’S REPORT Mike Plummer (10th Mountain Division LI) 1. The paid membership numbers through 1 June, 2009: Editorial material and photographs should be clearly marked with the sender’s name and address. No photo- Category 2006 2007 2008 2009 graphs will be returned unless specifically requested. All materials should be sent to Felicity Hallanan, Bliz- WWII 10th Mtn. Div. Veterans 1850 1718 1321 1006 zard Editor, 95 Zahler Tract, Sandy Creek, NY 13145, or by e-mail to [email protected]. Opinions expressed in this publication reflect those of the magnificent soldiers of the 10th and do not necessarily con- WWII 10th Mtn. Div Widows 323 335 259 226 form to accepted journalistic standards. Editor reserves the right to rewrite, renegotiate or refuse materials 10th Inf. Div. Veterans, Cold War 69 73 56 42 submitted for publication. Questions? Contact the editor at 315-387-2929 or by e-mail. Members should also 10th Mtn. Div. (LI) Veterans 166 269 893 288 feel free to contact National President Mike Plummer at 315-782-4178 or e-mail [email protected]. Sub- scription rate for non-members: $20. per year. Other Mtn. Units 23 30 23 19 Associates 77 77 77 40 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Associates Widow 1 The National Executive Committee consists of the President (Committee Chairman), Senior Vice President, Honorary 24 26 28 24 Secretary, Treasurer, Blizzard Editor, Executive Director, Quartermaster and two members-at-large, if need- Friends 24 64 71 68 ed, to be appointed by the President (Article VII, Section 1, National Bylaws, National Association of the 10th Mountain Division, Inc.) VTANG 15 The National Board of Directors consists of the Chairman of the Board, National President, National Senior Total 2556 2592 2612 1729 Vice President, National Secretary, National Treasurer, Blizzard Editor, Quartermaster, Executive Director, President of the 10th Mountain Division Foundation, all Chapter Presidents, and two voting members-at- In June we launched a national membership campaign to recruit some of 150,000 large who may be appointed at the option of the President. (Article IV, Section 2, National Bylaws, National 10th Mtn. Div. (LI) Alumni as members. I am asking Chapter Presidents to launch sim- Association of the 10th Mountain Division, Inc.) ilar campaigns in their geographical areas. The truth is that if we don’t capture some of EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE the 10th Mtn. Div. (LI) alumni and get them involved at the chapter level, the Associa- President Senior V.P. Melbourne, FL 32934 tion will never achieve its full potential. Michael Plummer (10th LI) Steve Coffey (Desc 87-F) gamefish [email protected] 3. Bruce Campbell (86-M), Chairman of the 2010 National Association Nominating 121 Paddock Street 1630 York Mills Lane Watertown, NY 13601 Reston, VA 20194 Executive Director Committee, has put together their plan to present one or more slate(s) by end of Jan., [email protected] [email protected] Craig Boss (10th LI) 2010. If you have any recommendations for President, VP, Secretary or Treasurer, 6880 Olmstead Rd. Secretary Treasurer Lowville, NY 13362 please contact Bruce and provide the name(s) to: [email protected]. Gil Pearsall (10th LI) Richard R. Babbitt (10th LI) [email protected] 4. John Russell, Chairman of the Membership Committee, represented the National 837 State Street 241 Clinton St., Apt. 6 Carthage, NY 13619 Watertown, NY 13601 Blizzard Editor Association on 25 May at the Tennessee Pass Memorial Day Ceremony. He presented [email protected] [email protected] Felicity Hallanan (Assoc) the Association’s wreath in honor of our fallen Warriors. 95 Zahler Tract Quartermaster Fort Drum Historian & Liaison Sandy Creek, NY 13145 5. The 2009 Tenth Mtn.

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