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Stories of soldiers who trained on skis and learn to climb jagged peaks as part of their training caught the imagination of a country embroiled in World War II and ready for heroes. The 10th Mountain Division originally consisted of students, ranchers, and mountain men of all types. Each had to have three letters of recommendation in order to be accepted. Written for young people as well as general readers of all ages, Soldiers of the Mountain chronicles the events leading up to and beyond their famous night-time climb of the cliffs of Riva Ridge. There they surprised the Germans and made possible the ensuing conquest of Mt. Belvedere and the rest of Italy. Fighting continued through the Apennines and on to the Po Valley and the base of the Alps before the Germans surrendered. The inspiring, frightening and sometimes even humorous events that occurred shaped the lives of these men forever.