TENTH MOUNTAIN DIVISION

LIVING HISTORY DISPLAY GROUP, INC.

Division Organization

The 10th Mountain Division in WWII evolved it’s organization over several years. Originally it was a “Light” infantry division, lacking heavy weapons, anti-aircraft artillery and some other units. In late 1944, it was converted to a standard U.S. Army organization of an infantry division. Thus it had three infantry regiments (the 85th , 86th , and 87th ) each with 12 line companies labeled A - M, omitting J; three artillery battalions (604th , 605th , and 616th Artillery); medical units, quartermaster units, and numerous specialized units such as the 126th Engineer Bn. and an MP (Military Police) Platoon. A nearly complete listing of the indigenous units is given below . Other units were temporarily attached on Kiska and again in Italy.

Each infantry regiment was commanded by a Colonel and consisted of three infantry battalions, commanded by Lt. Colonels. Each battalion was comprised of four line companies. ("Line" companies were on the front line during an attack, rather than being back from “the line” as a headquarters company or service company.) The battalions in each regiment were designated the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions.

The table below shows the companies in a typical infantry regiment. The example below is for the 85^th Regiment:

85-HQ (headquarters company) 85-SVC (service company; motor pool for ammunitions and rations) 85-MED (a medical unit attached to the regiment)

1st Bn. 85th	2nd Bn. 85th	3rd Bn. 85^th*

85-HQ-1	85-HQ-2	85-HQ-3
85-A	85-E	85-I
85-B	85-F	85-K
85-C	85-G	85-L
85-D**	85-H**	85-M**

*(The third battalion was sometimes humorously called the milk battalion - I, K, L & M = MILK)

Companies in this list with a are heavy weapons companies, with 30 cal. liquid cooled and 50 cal. air cooled machine guns and 81 mm mortars. Some of these were added in 1944 when the Division was “up-gunned”. Note that each battalion also had a detachment of medics attached to its HQ Company. They set up and manned an Aid Station for each battalion very near the front line.**

A line infantry company had approximately 200 men and was commanded by a Captain. Typically a 1st Lieutenant served as Executive Officer, and 2nd Lieutenants led each of the four platoons. Each platoon had three rifle squads of 12 men, each led by a S/Sgt. The 4th platoon was a weapons platoon which was equipped with light (30 cal. air cooled) machine guns and 60 mm mortars. In addition, each platoon had a medic assigned to it; (i.e., Frank Kurzinger was the 1st Platoon medic in C Company of the 85th Regiment. He was killed on Mt. Belvedere and is listed as 85-MED-C.)

The 10th had three field artillery battalions: the 604th FA, 605th FA, and 616th FA. In combat, each battalion normally supported a particular infantry regiment, respectively the 85th , 86th , and 87th . Each was commanded by a Lt. Colonel and had four Batteries (not "Companies"), as follows:

604-HQ The HQ company of the 604th
604-A A Battery
604-B B Battery
604-C C Battery
Sometimes the HQ and SVC functions were combined, as 604-HQ & SVC, but for our purpose we call them 604-HQ.

In addition, the 10th had a Division Artillery company in command of all the artillery, designated 10-DIV-ART. The company did not have any guns assigned.

LIST OF UNITS INDIGENOUS TO THE

10TH MOUNTAIN DIVISION through July 1945

HQ & HQ Company, 10th Mountain Division

85th Mountain Infantry Regiment    (15 May 43 - 26 Nov. 45)
86th Mountain Infantry Regiment    (20 Dec. 42 - 23 Nov. 45)
87th Mountain Infantry Regiment    (15 Nov. 41 - 20 Oct. 45)
90th Mountain Infantry Regiment    (15 May 43 - 22 Feb. 44)

10th Mountain Division Artillery

604th Field Artillery Battalion (Pack)
605th Field Artillery Battalion (Pack)
616th Field Artillery Battalion (Pack)

10th Mountain Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop    (horse-mounted, later motorized)
10th Mountain Antitank Battalion    (727th AAA MG Bn. & 576th AT Bty.)
10th Mountain Medical Battalion    ("Light" & 680th Med. Collection Co.)
10th Mountain Veterinary Company    (attached to 10th Mtn. Med. Bn.)

10th Mountain QM Battalion    (255th , 256th , & 257th QM Pack Cos. & 137th Pack Co.)
126th Mountain Engineer Battalion, Light, Combat; 226th & 299th Engr. Combat Pack Cos.)
710th Mountain Ordnance Company   (710th Ordnance Platoon, Light)
110th Mountain Signal Company   (110th Signal Platoon, Light)
10th Mountain Military Police Platoon
HQ Special Troops, 10th Mountain Division

Distinctive Insignia:

There are insignia authorized to be worn on the dress uniform for members of select organizations. After the War was over, all three Infantry Regiments received D.I.s, as did the Engineers, the Signal Corps units and possibly others. However, in WWII, only the 87^th Infantry Regiment was authorized to wear a D.I. on the dress uniform.

Unofficially there were insignia worn by some of the units. Others took officers U.S. insignia and had sterling crossed skis made at local jewelers – these were worn on the overseas cap, the ski cap and on the dress blouse to replace the D.I.’s. These were not authorized by the Army, and soldiers could be fined by the M.P.s (if anyone knew the regulations). There are a number of variations on these unofficial insignia – all of which are collectable.

The Division’s patch was authorized on 7 January, 1944. The “Mountain” tab was added on 22 November, 1944, but were not provided to the soldiers until sometime in mid 1945. WWII patches should have a khaki cloth edge exposed on all sides. WWII tabs are similar, with the first production run done on dark blue or green felt. The use of the “Mountain” tab was not authorized when the Division was re-estabilished in 1947, and was only authorized as a combat patch on the right shoulder for WWII veterans. The Patch and Tab were authorized when the division was re-activated in 1985, and are worn today.

Discription: On a blue powder keg background with a 1/8 inch white border 2 1/2 inches in height and 2 3/16 inches (5.56 cm) in width two bayonets in saltire throughout scarlet fimbriated white. Immediately above the insignia is a blue tab with the word “MOUNTAIN” in white.

Symbolism: The blue background and the bayonets are symbolic of infantry while the position of the bayonets in saltire simulates the numerical designation of the organization (Roman Numeral X).

Prior to the approval of the patch, either AGF patch or 2^nd Army patch was authorized. Frequently no patch was permitted.

Soldiers who participated in the attack on Kiska were issued a denim patch with a dagger screen-printed on it. This was authorized as a combat patch, and may be seen on the uniforms of those men who participated in the Kiska assault. The majority of the patches found today are WWII or post-war production embroidered with the khaki edge. If a denim screen-printed patch is found, it may be a patch that was issued ship-board after the Task Force left San Diego – these are quite rare and should not be worn.