Publius Virgilius Rogers Professor of American History Maurice Isserman recently discussed his book, The Winter Army: The World War II Odyssey of the 10th Mountain Division, America’s Elite Alpine Warriors, as a guest on History Camp. The author interview series is an initiative of non-profit organization The Pursuit of History.
Isserman talked about how he became “hooked on history” and World War II, and how he turned his research and writing focus from topics such as the 1960s to mountaineering. He described how he later merged his interest in World War II with mountaineering after meeting and hearing the stories of “exceptional veterans of the 10th Mountain Division.” One of those people was Donald Potter, a former Hamilton professor of geology and skier who had been recruited during college for this new elite Army unit.
In the interview, Isserman explored how the 10th Mountain Division originated and developed and its role in the war.
