Birth and Death of the Tenth Mountain [10th Mountain Division, 1942-45] Harry Poschman ~WWII US Army Cold Weather Infantry Aleutians & Italy

Title: The Birth and Death of the Tenth Mountain [10th Mountain Division, 1942-1945]

Author: Harry Poschman

Description: Unpublished, photocopied typescript in a three-ring binder. Some penciled editorial annotations which appear to have been made by one of Poschman's comrade-in-arms. [8], 1-159, [3], + [16] pages with xerox quality reproductions of photographs. All pages are single-sided. 11 x 8.5 inches. Per OCLC, one other copy of the manuscript at the Denver Public Library (Harry Poschman papers, 1983-2004).

The World War II personal narrative of Harry Poschman, who describes his experiences with the 10th Mountain Division, a light infantry division which specialized in mountain and cold-weather warfare. His account goes into extensive detail describing both the character, origins, and training of the 10th at various locations in the United States, and the division's movements and engagements with the Japanese on Kiska Island in the Aleutians, and their 114 days in combat with Axis forces in Italy (Po Valley, Bagni di Lucca, Appenines, Mount Belvedere, Della Spe, etc.). The Italian section of the narrative is additionally augmented with paragraphs from the war diaries of friends Dan Kennerly and Sgt. John Pierpont.

Harry Poschman (1913-2006) was a native of Pennsylvania who enlisted in the Army in 1942 at Fort MacArthur, San Pedro, California. At the time of his enlistment he had completed three years of high school, was working in a laundry or dry cleaner and was unmarried. He joined the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Lewis (Washington), and served also at Camp Hale (Colorado), Fort Ord (California), Kiska Island (Alaska), and Camp Swift (Texas), before being sent to Italy. He was assigned to Company H of the 87th Infantry Regiment, later with the Mountain Training Group, before joining the 85th Infantry Regiment, Companies G and B, and the Headquarters of the 1st Battalion. Poschman was awarded the Bronze Star medal for his actions in the Apennines and Po Valley in 1945. He attained the rank of Sergeant.

Contents:
1. Introduction
2. Camp Roberts
3. Fort Lewis
3A. Camp Hale
4. Fort Ord
5. Aleutian Task Force Nine
6. Assault on Kiska Island
7. Retreat from Kiska Island
8. Mountain Training Group
9. Beginning Death
10. Beautiful Italy
11. Belvedere
12. Dealla Spe, The Debacle
13. A Little Peace in Italy
14. Once More We Die
15. An Interesting Profitable War
16. Days of Wind and Roses
Epilogue

Binding: 3-Ring Binder
Condition: Very Good

Publisher: unpublished
Place: [Moore Haven, Florida]
Year: 1983

Keywords: World War II, WWII, memoirs, regimental history, Mountain Infantry Regiment, Mountain Training Group, United States Army, American, personal narrative, Camp Hale, Camp Swift, Ski troops, cold weather military maneuvers, Kiska Island, Aleutian Islands, Italy, Po Valley, Bagni di Lucca, Appenines, Mount Belvedere, Della Spe, 85th Infantry Regiment, 87th Infantry Regiment,