Shortly before the attached article was seen on the newsstands, America had probably read nothing about the Assault Climbers of the U.S. Army - but a few week later, when D-Day was launched, the news-hungry readers on the home front would feel that they couldn't read enough about those hardy lads who climbed the steep cliffs at Point du Hoc on June 6. But in May of 1944, the term "assault climbers" was new to them.
This article is beautifully illustrated with two color images and a brief explanation as to what was involved in the training of those lucky souls in the U.S. infantry who were charged with the task of learning how to climb the steep, rocky terrain held by the Fascist powers.
"An assault climber is a soldier who is (1) a mountain guide, and (2) a fighting man. He must know how to attack by going up steep mountains swiftly and quietly that no telltale rocks go crashing down to spread an alarm to the enemy....In small groups, assault climbers are schooled in every phase of mountaineering; from properly walking, to correctly falling. They must to stand erect in climbing and descending. In twos and threes they help each other. They learn to lead an attacking party, using ropes clinched around rocks, trees or their own braced bodies..."
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