As home to the nation’s largest permanent 10th Mountain Division exhibit, the Colorado Snowsports Museum is proud to maintain deep connections to the heroic soldiers and their families. Our exhibit and preservation work honor their lasting impact on both history and snow sports. We invite you to stop by the Museum to see the newly added materials for our Letters Home exhibition.

It first debuted in January 2024, and the Museum has been working behind the scenes with 10th Mountain Division descendants to expand this digital display. Since the exhibit launched, our curator, Dana Zapfel, has been flooded with opportunities to share even more soldier stories through their letters, photos, archival materials, biographies, and more. “Connecting with descendants to better preserve and share individual soldiers’ stories is exactly what we hoped would happen after the launch of this exhibit,” Dana said.

This expansion includes connections to 12 more soldiers:

Abbott, Stuart E.

Arnold, William K.

Bankhart, Deborah

Barker, James A.

Chase, Charles Curtis

Coon, John Marshall

Davis, Wilfred “Slim”

Macdonald, Donald L.

Morrison, George

Neuron, Walter

Slone, Woodrow

Vale, Edwin H.

Our curator was moved to learn more about the above soldiers. One individual stuck out to her, James A. Barker. James loved to be outdoors and volunteered for service in the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division during World War II. He was a member of the 85th Infantry, Company L.

James left for training at Camp Hale in Colorado on August 27, 1943. In January 1945, James, now promoted to Sergeant and assistant squad leader, left with his battalion to join the war in Italy.

Once in Italy, detailed plans were made to coordinate the efforts of the various groups within the 10th to climb the ridges and drive the Germans from the area one mountain at a time. At 11 pm on February 19th, members of the 85th and 87th infantries hiked Mt. Belvedere in the dark. James’ group led the hike up the steeper side of the mountain, moving skillfully and silently into their positions. The German troops on Mt. Belvedere were experienced soldiers who had been defending the territory for over a year, so the Americans were going to have to fight smart and hard to win.

The assault began before the sun came up the next day. The fiercest fighting took place right where James’ battalion was positioned, just below the summits of Mt. Belvedere and Gorgolesco. James made a courageous move, leading a squad of men across the rugged terrain into enemy fire. His goal: to fire his rifle grenades with maximum effectiveness. As he went out to do so, James, just 22 years old, was injured by an enemy grenade and died almost instantly. He was one of the 192 men who were killed in the battle on Mt. Belvedere.

After his death, James was awarded a Bronze Star for “heroic achievement in action.” He was brave, dutiful, and determined to accomplish the task he was assigned. He was an inspiration for his comrades and for all of us, explained the War Department letter to James’ parents.

Photo and biography generously provided by Lisa and Mark Newman. Lisa is the Great Niece of Sgt James A. Barker.

Additionally, the Museum was pleased to work with Anne and Don Macdonald to access 17 digitized letters written by Donald L. Macdonald (PFC, Company E, 85th Mountain Infantry). Half of the letters were added to this upload, and we’re working diligently to add the remaining letters.

Donald Macdonald (1923-1995) began skiing as a teenager in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.  In 1943, he volunteered for the 10th Mountain Division, a three-letter recruit.  Serving in E Company, 85th Mountain Infantry, he fought as a bazooka man in Italy.  After the war, he returned to Tufts University and was a member of the ski team.  Upon graduation, his love of trains and skiing led him back to Colorado, where he settled in Leadville.  He worked for the Colorado and Southern Railway, making sure the 641, the last regularly scheduled steam locomotive operating in the U.S., was ready to go every day.  He became the area manager for Copper Hill, today’s Ski Cooper, helped begin the Ski Area Management program at Colorado Mountain College, and led the Lake County Search and Rescue team. He was active in the 10th Mountain Association, helped organize the annual 10th Mountain Memorial Day events atop Tennessee Pass, and skied as much as possible.

Generously provided by the Macdonald Family – Anne and Donald.

Anne is the author of “The Macdonalds of Cedar Park,” a novel that captures both the secrecy of the Manhattan Project and the sacrifices made on the home front for an ordinary American family. Based on the 140+ World War II-era family letters her grandmother kept, as well as primary research.

Another new addition is letters and photos from Woodrow Slone. Woodrow served two enlistments in the U.S Army. His first enlistment (24NOV36 – 11JAN39) was spent at Schofield Barracks on the island of O’ahu, Hawaii, with the 21st Infantry, Company F.  His second enlistment (10OCT39 – 19JUL46) took him to various locations throughout the U.S. and Europe. In June 1942, he was stationed at Fort Lewis, WA, with the 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry, Company B as a Private. In August of that year, he was appointed Corporal, and by November, he was promoted to Sergeant.  In February 1943, he achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant.  By this time, he was part of what would become the 10th Mountain Division training at Camp Hale, CO.  From August to December 1943, as part of the 87th, he was deployed to Kiska, AK, to participate in removing occupying Japanese forces.  On January 25, 1944, he was appointed Tech Sergeant at Camp Carson, CO.  In the Spring of 1944, he participated in the grueling D-Series training maneuvers in the mountains surrounding Camp Hale.  On January 4, 1945, Woodrow set sail for Naples, Italy, on the USS West Point along with other members of the U.S. Fifth Army’s 87th and 85th Infantry Regiments.  After transport to Pisa, the 87th fought its way northeast along the Gothic Line.  Woodrow was entrusted as a Platoon Sergeant with three squads of men under his command.  On April 14, 1945, during the Spring Offensive, he was wounded in action on Hill 860 near Torre Iussi and the village of Serra Sarzana. He was evacuated from the battlefield, returned to the United States for medical treatment & rehabilitation, and was honorably discharged on July 19, 1946.

Submitted March 11, 2025, by Bryan K. Slone (son of Woodrow Slone) on behalf of all the children of Woodrow Slone.

Our curator was honored to work with the Morrison Family and obtain a letter written by George Morrison to his parents on June 27, 1945, greatly detailing his time and actions in Italy during and just after the war. We are grateful to his son, Daniel, for thoughtfully transcribing this letter.

Pfc. George Morrison Jr. was born on April 25, 1923, in New Orleans, Louisiana. In junior high school, he moved with his parents and sister, Shirley, to Sacramento, California. At the age of thirteen, while on a trip with his parents in the Sierra Nevada mountains, near the Donner Summit, he first discovered snow skiing. It changed his life. Throughout his junior high and high school years, he skied nearly every weekend.

George registered for the United States Army draft at the age of nineteen, on June 30, 1942. He was living in Sacramento, California, and working for the Division of Highways Engineering Department at the time. George was called to active duty and inducted in Monterey, California, on Jan. 18, 1943. With three letters of recommendation, he joined what would become the 10th Mountain Division – 10th Light Division (Alpine). George was sent straight to Camp Hale to begin training. In March of 1943, George was trained and certified in the U. S. Army method of skiing and went on to serve as a ski instructor at Camp Hale.

Assigned to the 86th Mountain Infantry Regiment, he was among the first from the division to deploy to Italy aboard the U.S.S. Argentina on December 11, 1944. They arrived at Naples, Italy, on December 22, 1944.

The 10th Mountain Division fought in three major battles against the German Army in the Italian campaign. During the second battle, on March 4, 1945, George received the Bronze Star for meritorious service in combat.

After the war, George returned home to Sacramento. In March of 1947, George moved to Natchez, Mississippi, to manage his aunt’s farm. It was in Natchez that he met Virginia Lee Beltzhoover, whom he married on January 15, 1950. Together, they raised five children.

George joined the International Paper Company in 1950 and enjoyed a long career until retiring in 1985. In 1985, he incorporated Riva Ridge Farm and managed the operations until his passing on August 27, 1993.

March 1943 – George at Cooper Hill. Generously provided by the Morrison Family Collection.

Providing another, more personal, perspective is a scrapbook from Charles Curtis Chase, donated by Cindy Adams. Charles served with the 10th Mountain Division from 1942 until 1946, Private 1st Class, Company A, 126th Engineer Battalion.

Charles Curtis Chase — generously provided by Cindy Adams.

The book details his time at Camp Hale, in Colorado, Italy, and more. It shows scenes of training and camp. Many of the photographs also detail the uniforms worn by various men.

The Colorado Snowsports Museum is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm. Stop by and take a deep dive into the history of the 10th Mountain Division, and more about Colorado’s rich snow sports history.

Do you have materials you’d like to submit for our Letters Home exhibit? Please contact Dana Zapfel, Curator and Director of Collections, for more details.

Email: dana@snowsportsmuseum.org

Thank you to our partners: the 10th Mountain Division Foundation and the 10th Mountain Division Descendants groups. We are also forever grateful to the families we have been able to work with along the way. Without you, we wouldn’t be able to offer an exhibit of this magnitude.

About the Colorado Snowsports Museum and Hall of Fame:

Founded in 1975 and located in Vail, Colorado, the Colorado Snowsports Museum is celebrating its 50th anniversary. As the official snow sports museum of Colorado, our mission is to celebrate Colorado snow sports by telling stories that educate and inspire others to seek adventure. Through priceless artifacts and engaging exhibits, we preserve and display the birth, rise, and explosion of skiing and snowboarding in our state. Highlights include Climb to Glory (featuring the 10th Mountain Division), The Colorado Snowboard Archive, and The Colorado Snowsports Hall of Fame. Learn more and support the Museum by becoming a member: www.snowsportsmuseum.org.