Celebrating the Army’s 10th Mountain Division Plus: Howard Orthotics and Prosthetics Helping Support the Troops at Fort Drum
Roger Howard, CPO, Director
Every November, Americans celebrate the brave men and women who’ve served in our military. And at Howard Orthotics and Prosthetics, we pride ourselves on helping active and retired military personnel all year long, especially those serving at Fort Drum. Fort Drum is the home of the 10th Mountain Division, an elite infantry division in the United States Army. As proud VA-contracted healthcare providers, we have a close relationship with these and other soldiers who have undergone an amputation or suffered a loss of a limb. Our custom prosthetic devices can help make a huge difference in their day-to-day lives. This Veteran’s Day, we wanted to celebrate the 10th Mountain Division by sharing a bit of its history. And if you’re a veteran in need of a new prosthesis or looking for a tune-up on your current device, our Certified Prosthetists/Orthotists (CPOs) will ensure you get the care you need and deserve. Heroes in Our Own Backyard: The 10th Mountain Division The 10th Mountain Division was first activated during World War II, where they fought in the mountains of Italy–some of the roughest terrain in the entire conflict. At the war's end, they received the surrender of several German units. After WWII, the division was deactivated and then reactivated as a training division. It was then converted to a full combat division for four years before being deactivated again in 1958. However, the history of the 10th Mountain Division doesn’t end there. In 1985, the division was reactivated once again–this time at Fort Drum. It was redesigned as a light infantry division capable of quick deployment across difficult terrain. The division has played an essential role in the United State’s military activities since the end of the Cold War. In the ‘90s, they supported Operation Desert Storm in Iraq and provided aid in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew and the Somali Civil War. However, the 10th Mountain Division is perhaps best known for its role in the War on Terrorism and the Iraq War. During both conflicts, they were deployed throughout the Middle East and played a vital role in several operations, receiving several streams and unit decorations for their service.
Made with FlippingBook Converter PDF to HTML5