04.20 2004 Litchfield Inventory 1946 – 2004
04.20 2004 Litchfield Inventory 1946 – 2004 Number: 2004.020 Title: Litchfield Collection Creator: John Litchfield Dates: 1946-2004 Media: Papers, letters, caricatures, photographs, medals, awards Quantity: 2 c.f. Biography of John Litchfield: John was born in Lisbon Falls, Me. July 21, 1917. In 1934 he proved the best four event skier in the State Ski Championships and was awarded the Ski Meister Trophy. He was the only freshman Class “A” Ski Jumper at Dartmouth College. After graduation in 1939, John and Jimmie Durrance left for Sun Valley, Idaho to teach skiing. He remained there until WWII when he tried to enlist in Ketchum, Idaho but was turned down because of his eyes. The Army accepted him where he was sent to Fort Benning, Georgia for officer training school, from which he graduated a second lieutenant. He was assigned to Camp Roberts, California. Met Jean at Carmel and they were married in Denver, Colorado in 1943. In the summer of 1942, construction started at Pando, Colorado to house 15,000 men to train for mountain warfare. This division was called The Tenth Mountain, and the camp Camp Hale. The National Ski Patrol handled the recruiting and the quota of 15,000 was met before the date set. Skiers flocked to enlist. John joined the mountain training in Camp Hale as the 87th Infantry Platoon Leader and later was transferred to Headquarters Company Special Duty. John was with the Headquarters Company as a liaison officer when in Europe. During the Division’s rapid advance, a company disappeared and John and two other men were sent out at night in German occupied territory to locate this company.
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