Photo Record
Images
Metadata
Accession number |
2017.29 |
Catalog date |
2020-04-23 |
Credit line |
Lanza, Mary E. |
Date |
1942-1945 |
Description |
Photo, Black and white, This image shows an areal view of Camp Hale, Colorado, It shows a mountain view with white barracks at the center and foreground, Camp Hale, between Red Cliff and Leadville in the Eagle River valley in Colorado, was a U.S. Army training facility constructed in 1942 for what became the 10th Mountain Division, On the photo: Mary Davis circled the barracks she lived in and made a note that reads: "Where I live #251" |
Imagefile |
009\2017298.JPG |
Notes |
Camp Hale, the legendary home of the 10th Mountain Division, was constructed 22 miles west of here between Leadville and Minturn in the Pando Valley, at an elevation of 9,224’. The location was ideal. The government owned the land, which was accessible via existing roads and railroads, and the surrounding mountains were perfect for training troops in winter warfare. The initial population of Camp Hale included 15,000 soldiers; 3,000 administrative, medical and other non-skiing staff, 5,000 mules and 200 dogs. Experienced skiers and young outdoorsmen were happy to be at Camp Hale, forging their relationship with Colorado’s mountains. Leadville, Glenwood Springs, Aspen and Denver were popular weekend getaways for the young soldiers. Some recruits, especially those from southern states, suffered from altitude sickness and could not adapt to the bitter cold. Smoke from camp smokestacks and trains filled the valley, causing pneumonia and the Pando Hack, which sent many recruits home. During the war, Camp Hale also served as a prisoner of war camp, holding approximately 400 German soldiers. Did you know that there were 200 women stationed at Camp Hale? The Women's Army Corps (WAC) was the women's branch of the United States Army that stationed many women at Camp Hale along with the many men that trained there. It was created as an auxiliary unit on May 15, 1942 by Public Law 554 and converted to an active duty status in the Army on July 1, 1943. The Women’s Army Corps was created to perform a wide variety of non-combat functions within the Army including finance, communications, the motor pool, and supply. |
Number of images |
1 |
Catalog Number |
2017.29.8 |
Object Name |
Photo |
People |
Davis, Mary Elizabeth |
Provenance |
Frank R. Davis, Jr. and his brother John W. Davis donated a photo scrapbook to the Museum in 2017 that belonged to their mother (Mary Elizabeth (Lanza) Davis – DOB: 3/3/1920) who created it during her time as a Women’s Army Corps (WAC) stationed at Camp Hale. Additionally, their father (Frank Russell Davis - DOB: 10/9/1922) was also stationed there, assigned to the Calvary. Their mother recently passed away on June 24, 2017 at the age of 97, their Dad has been gone for a number of years. Their parents met at Camp Hale. Mary grew up in Pittsburgh, PA and Frank in George West, Texas. Mary never left the states and Frank was shipped to the Burma/India area during World War II. The scrapbook with photos was in John Davis’ possession for many years before shipping it and donating it to the Museum. |
Received date |
08/21/2017 |
Search Terms |
10th Mountain Division photo World War II Camp Hale, Colorado Camp Hale barracks Women's Army Corps (WAC) |
Status |
Digitized-Shelf |
Status date |
2020-04-23 |
Year Range to |
1945 |
Year Range from |
1942 |
Subjects |
10th Mountain Division photo World War II Camp Hale, Colorado Camp Hale barracks Women's Army Corps (WAC) |
Catalog type |
Standard |
Lexicon category |
10: Unclassifiable Artifacts |
Classification |
War U.S. Army Organizations & Clubs Historic Sites |