38th Regimental Combat Team Training Day Program
This is a very interesting piece of military climbing history. The 38th R.C.T. (Regimental Combat Team) published a simple program to introduce and outline a demonstration of their basic mountain skills training. The text has some interesting references like “Shangri-la” and the observation that well trained Army climbers might very well become “world Famous”. Indeed, many well know climbers of the 40s, 50s, and 60s did get their start (or additional training) in the military. Raffi Bedayn, Harvey T. Carter, The Stettner brothers, Paul Petzoldt, David Brower, and many others served as trainers, soldiers, and technical advisors.
The 38th RCT was sent to Camp Carson, Colorado (now Fort Carson) in 1946 for mountain and winter training. They were there until late in 1948 and were sent to Korea in 1950. This program dates to approximately 1947.
My grandfather was one of the mountain warfare (rock climbing and ski) instructors at camp Carson/ Hale. I am about to post pics from his time there- he also climbed in the cascades and sierras. Look me up at @robert_cusimano on Instagram.
I’d love to see photos from that era! So much rich history and amazing personal stories from the mountain training centers.
My father CSM H A Brosseau was part of the 38th RCT. He memy mother she lived in Boulder at the time. My brother was born i at Ft Zlewis and my sister was and I bother were born in Fairbanks Alaska as dad was stationed in all three areas as the 38th did training. Proud son.
My dad used to sing to us as kids “90poundsof rucksack “