[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 31 (Thursday, February 16, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S2819]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 50TH ANNIVERSARY ASSAULT ON RIVA RIDGE

  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, 50 years ago tomorrow, the legendary 10th 
Mountain Division successfully assaulted Riva Ridge in northern Italy's 
Appennine Mountains. Tomorrow, 12 of my World War II comrades from the 
10th Mountain Division will stage a 50th anniversary climb of Riva 
Ridge to reenact the division's historic capture of this heavily 
fortified German stronghold.
  Using ropes, pitons, and other mountaineering equipment to scale the 
cliffs, and wearing replicas of our World War II white camouflage 
suits, this team of ski troop veterans will follow the same route used 
by 10th Mountain Division units in seizing the strategic 4,500-foot 
peak a half century earlier.
  This assault group of World War II combat veterans--all of whom are 
now in their early seventies--will be joined in the commemorative 
operation by mountain soldier veterans of the German gebirgstruppe and 
the Italian Alpini. This peaceful ascent of Riva Ridge reflects the 
founding purposes of the International Federation of Mountain Soldiers, 
an eight-nation organization which represents more than 500,000 
mountain soldier veterans, many of whom fought on opposing sides during 
World War II. Tomorrow's climb is actually a coming together of wartime 
foes on a rugged mountain summit in Italy.
  In addition, these climbers will be joined by today's soldiers. 
During recent years, we veterans of the wartime 10th Mountain Division 
have established close bonds of friendship with our young counterparts 
of today's 10th Mountain Division
 --light. Following their recent return from Haiti, 10 young soldiers 
of the 10th Mountain--light--from Fort Drum, NY, will be participating 
in the reenactment climb. Joining these active duty soldiers will be 
two climbing experts from the 172d Mountain Battalion, Vermont National 
Guard.

  The reenactment teams are headquartered in the small 
mountain village of Lizzano, which was the scene of intense fighting 
during my division's breakthrough from the Apennines northward into the 
Po River Valley and the Dolomite Mountains. During the 10th Mountain 
Division's decisive combat operations in northern Italy, nearly 1,000 
of my fellow soldiers lost their lives to enemy action, another 4,000 
were wounded.
  As our Nation observes the 50th anniversary of the end of World War 
II during 1995, I am tremendously proud to know that a handful of my 
fellow 10th Mountain Division veterans have undertaken such a 
meaningful way of commemorating one of their victories in the final 
months of the war. I salute them for their endeavor, and I am sure that 
all other Members of the Congress will do the same.
  Mr. PRESSLER addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from South Dakota.

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