2003 Hall of Fame Inductees
Bud Cary
Burton "Bud" Wolcott Cary, Jr.
Rank, Company, Regiment: PFC L 86TH INF
Birth date/Death Date: 8/22/1921 - 6/29/2001
Vermont Location: Calais
Awards: Bronze Star, Discharge 12/1945
Competitive Skiing:
Ski jumper at Kimball Union and Colgate University. Also slalom
Importance of Vermont: Skiing, visiting daughter and grandchildren.
First skiing experience: Probably with his father, but definitely Kimball Union was a big start.
College: Colgate University
What was your experience in the 10th like?
[He] never really talked about it. Just that he disliked the mules. Camp Hale and Leadville had many memories. Italian people were very nice to them.
Why did you join the 10th?
To teach skiing to the 10th that did not know how to ski.
Ski School: Taught ski school in New York from 502 to early 60s in Manlius-Pompey-Fayetteville area.
Vermont Ski Area Connection: Skied at Okemo for many years after retirement in 1983. Overnight vacations with family, skied Ragged Mountain and others
Information submitted by: Missy Storrow, daughter
Earl E. Clark
Rank, Company, Regiment: CPT HQ-1 87th
Birth date/Death Date: 7/3/1919
Vermont Location: South Londonderry
Awards: 12/7/79 inducted into the Army's Hall of Fame, 1999 inducted into the Colorado Ski Hall of Fame, Honorary Colonel of 87th at Fort Drum
Importance of Vermont: "My father was the Methodist minister and I was born in our home next to the church [South Londonderry]."
First skiing experience:
"I first skied at the age of 13 in Wisconsin, toe straps and galoshes! As the years went by I got better skis and boots and by 1939 was a good, but certainly not expert, skier. I worked for the summers of 1940 and 41 at Jenny Lake in the Grand Tetons and did considerable skiing in the back country and climbing of the Teton peaks."
Why did you join the 10th?
When the creation of the 87th was announced, it was there that I had to go! I have felt or the rest of my life that I served with a fabulous group of men which made the 10th great!"
Ski Patrol: "My return to skiing was as head of the patrol at the Arapahoe Basin the year it opened and I have skied ever since."
Ski Industry: 1985 became Board member of the Over the Hill Gang, International, a ski and adventure club for seniors, President 1988-1992.
Role of Skiing in your Life: "Skiing after the war was my way of life."
Other information: Founder of the National Association of the 10th Mountain Division and its National President for 7 years; Chairman of the Board of the 10th Mountain Division Foundation and Chairman Emeritus of the National Association, Founder of the International Federation of Mountain Soldiers.
Robert D COchran
Rank, Company, Regiment: 126 ENG
Vermont Location: Burlington/Stowe
Importance of Vermont: "I went in a Vermonter and came out as a Vermonter. Most of us came from mountainous areas in the US."
First skiing experience:
"I began skiing at the age of 9 by going off a jump we made behind Dorothea and Frank Stafford's house in 1932. One day I went off the jump at an angle and landed in an apple tree breaking two ribs. After that my oldest sister Velma decided that jumping was not for little Robert. She bought me my first pair of down hill skis. Don't know where she got them. They were made in Switzerland."
What was your experience in the 10th like?
"With my skiing experience I was taken into Tenth Recon as a ski instructor. We were one of best trained units in the American army. I think because of our education status."
Why did you join the 10th?
"I met Minnie Dole on Mt. Mansfield doing ski patrol work during my last years in high school. He had organized the National Ski Patrol and invited me to join. He also was instrumental in starting the 10th Mt. Division. So that is they way I wanted to go. At that time, you had to have three letters of recommendation and a high school diploma. I had all of that so out to Camp Hale I went."
Ski Patrol: "I came back to Vermont and Mt. Mansfield and was a ski patrol man for 30 years."
Ski School: Ski Instructor for Bates College, Auburn, ME
Information submitted by: Bob Cochran
James H. Conniff, jr.
Rank, Company, Regiment: PFC E 86TH INF
Vermont Location: Northfield/ Norwich
Importance of Vermont: "Many years of rec. skiing in Vermont."
First skiing experience: "1935 or 36 pine skis with toe straps."
What was your experience in the 10th like?: “A learning and growing experience."
Why did you join the 10th? "I could contribute with my experience as a skier and outdoors man."
Ski Patrol: Aspen, CO
Information submitted by: James Conniff
Clement J. Curtis
Rank, Company, Regiment: S/SGT K 86TH
Vermont Location: Stowe
First skiing experience:
"My first skis were 3 footers. Maybe the 2nd or 3rd grade. I couldn't get home from school fast enough to my skis which were still wet from the day before. Being pine and wet the grain would peel back and when my father came home from work he would cut the loose grain off with his jackknife ready for the next day. My next skis were 6 footers. Again they were pine with a slot cut through the middle for the toe strap. I liked skiing downhill but there had to be something in between the top and bottom such as a bump. I think it was the second day with the that new pair that I built a bump landed in soft snow and broke one in two where the toe strap went through. As I was the youngest of nine and my father was a mill worker, there wasn't much money for sporting goods. It was a while before I had skis again. When I was in 8th grade, my brother in law gave his two groove hickory 7 foot jumpers. I couldn't think of a nicer gift."
Competitive Skiing:
Made the high school team and competed in the eastern amateur jumping championship in Lake Placid '29 & '30 (scared stiff). In 1933 I joined a professional ski jumping group and in 1935 ski jumped in the first indoor winter sports in the US at the Boston Garden, Madison Square Garden, Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Springfield, Mass., and New Haven. Springfield, Mass, was a bit unique in that the landing slops was built inside and the jump built on the outside and we can flying through a window. Besides jumping demonstrations there was down hill, slalom, crosscountry, and snowshoe racing demonstrations. The Ice capades were with is through 1939 when Hitler set out to conquer the world and that was the end of the indoor shows as such."
What was your experience in the 10th like?
"Then he told me of an expedition testing equipment in Lake Louise, Canada, and asked if I'd like to go. Of course, I'd like to go. So I went and was in charge of 75 men. Arriving at Lake Louise RR station I called the men to attention as the CO was coming to greet us. There I was standing there stiffer than a poker, he came up to me inches from my face 'WHAT IN HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?' That was Paul Townsend who lived two doors from my home in Lebanon, NH. Seeing him was a very pleasant surprise. The equipment was not ski equipment. We were there to maintain camp for the Studebaker Co. who was testing the WEASEL on Athabaska glacier. Our camp was a beautiful sight at the base of the glacier. I was a truck driver and drove up the glacier (9miles). Other days I drove to Lake Louise 40 miles for rations or gas. What a great detail that was. Back to Camp Hale I joined a truck company long enough to earn Staff sergeant stripes and returned to the Mountain Training Group. Passed the ski teachers exam with the highest marks and was assigned to teach instructors from other ski schools from all over the country, the army method. In the summer I taught rock and mountain climbing. During one of these sessions I was called to go to Mt. Rainier to make a movie for the army. The film started on Mt. Rainier and had to be finished in NYC studio due to the lack of trees high on the mountain (what a blast that was.)
Then with three other men I was sent to many other camps teaching them how to take care of themselves in extreme cold, such as showing them how and where to build huts of tree bows. Being on detached service most of the time in the Division I didn't go to Europe with them. Then back to Stowe."
"In May 1942, I joined the army. I finished Basic Training in So. Carolina and was sent to the 10th Mountain Division in Tacoma, Washington, with a group of skiers (9). I being the only certified teacher was sent to the Snowshoe outfit. Fortunately the C.O. there happened to be Everett Bailey of Burlington, VT, who used to teach skiing with us in Stowe on weekends. His first comment was 'what are you doing here.' All I could say is 'this is where they sent me. This showshoe outfit.'"
Ski School: "In 1939 I passed the ski teachers exam in the Hannes Schneiders ski school in No. Conway, NH, and joined the Sepp Ruschp ski school in 1940."
Vermont Ski Area Connection: Stowe, Mt. Mansfield
"Being discharged from the army in late '44 and married to Anne M. Courtemanche I returned with my new bride to Stowe and the Mount Mansfield Co.
Sepp Ruschp the president and general manager asking if I would assist him in running the business at the State Lodge area which consisted of a T-bar lift, rope tow, ski school, ski repair shop and restaurant. In the summer I purchased an ice delivery business. I hired one man year round and he took care of it in the winter while I was at Stowe. In 1948 I was asked to manage the Summit House at the top of the mountain. This hotel was 90 years old and stood there with the help of 1 inch cables anchored to the ledges. Some days it was beautiful. Some days we were in the clouds and some days the thunder storms were 'something else'. Those days the guests stayed indoors playing scrabble etc. We, my wife and two little children, spent 8 summers up there. Although we lived in our own little cottage, I left the company in 1955 and went into the construction business which was good for me. Mentally, physically, and financially. Retired in 1975. I'm now 92 years old and enjoy Stowe in summer and winter in Florida with Anne." Later became a contractor an helped to build Topnotch and Stowehof.
Property manager for the Summit House on Mt. Mansfield when it burned in 1958
Information submitted by: Clem Curtis
Wendall ”Wendy” Cram
Rank, Company, Regiment: T/SGT K 87TH INF
Vermont Location: Bridgewater
First skiing experience: "6 Years old skiing in our back yard. Then skiing in Woodstock on the first rope tow."
Competitive Skiing: Olympic team, 1940.
What was your experience in the 10th like?
"A great outfit, tuff at times. Interesting work. Good friends."
Why did you join the 10th?
"Felt qualified."
Ski School: Bromley Ski School; Stratton Mtn. (post-war through 2004)
Ski Industry: Ski rep in the summers, owned ski shop.
Other information: The Museum has in its collection the scrapbooks made by the Cram's mother and his Olympic sweater
Photograph information: Vernon and Wendy Cram
Information submitted by: Wendy Cram
Vernon Cram
Rank, Company, Regiment: PFC B 86TH
Vermont Location: Bridgewater
Importance of Vermont:"My being born and brought up in Vermont certainly played a role and was actually the complete reason I joined the 10th. Skiing was my one passion and my brother Wendy was already in the 87th. There was no problem. I put in for it- along with three letter of recommendation before I was called up."
"My earliest memories of skiing go back to the late twenties (1928-29). When I was about 4 or 5 years old I had little skis with one hole for a toe strap. We perfected this by using a canning jar or a piece of car tire tube to hold the heel and boot on the ski. We used tree limbs for poles until they came out with bamboo types. When 'Gilbert Ski Tow' opened in Woodstock, VT in 1934 we spent weekends skiing there until 'Suicide Six' and 'Pico' opened. My brother Wendy and I used to ski race all over New England. He won more than I and became a member of the 1940 Olympic Team. War came so they were never held."
First skiing experience:
I was born and brought up in Bridgewater, VT, and before ski lifts, we use to "climb" in order to come down. We built ramps over stone walls and fences so we could go from the top of Hudson Mtn. In Bridgewater and ski non-stop to my back porch. There were a lot of maple sugar woods with roads and open places and a little bushwacking to get to the bottom. Then we'd stop at Bump's grocery store and then do it all over again. We also ski jumps in the village."
College: UVM
Competitive Skiing: Woodstock High School won the Vermont State Interscholastic High School Championship three years in a row. (1940-41-42). Raced all over New England 1938-1943 with brother Wendy.
What was your experience in the 10th like?
Inducted 6/43 (Camp Evans, MA); Trained at Camp Hale, CO, and Camp Swift, TX. Combat in Italy; wounded; discharged O'Reilly Hospital, MO 2/46. Also in VT National Guard 1942.
"My experience in the 10th was where my life changes forever. It was tough, demanding, regimented, organized, mind and body building training that made a man of you fast. That would be even faster when in combat in Italy.
One of the most unforgettable periods in the 10th was the 'D' series. Some of this training exercise, about 3 weeks or so long, was as taxing on us as was actual fighting in Italy. I wrote a day by day diary of this. I would say the main difference was 'D' series we used blanks instrad of 'live' ammo. I was involved in the taking of Riva Ridge. The end of the war was at Sassamolare, Italy when I was wounded twice and left my squad or…they left me on the side of the hill 3/4/45. Glenn finished off the war o.k."
"I joined the 10th Mountain Division because it was the only outfit in the army that had skiing in it. (my one big 'love') My brother Wendy joined in 1941 and was one of the original cadre in the Mtn. Training Group and original 87th regiment. As soon as I graduated from high school in June 1943, I went to Fort Devens, Mass. And was in Camp Hale in July going through recruit school.
Here I would like to tell of an unusual time and through the war in Italy.
Glenn Woods, Jr. and I grew up together, skied a lot together…although he was a non-competitive skier. We went to Woodstock High School and graduated in 1943. Previously we spent a year and a half in the Vermont State Guard. We were inducted together. Our serial numbers were two apart as a friend of ours was in line between us. We went to Fort Devens. They saw that we were or had been trained in the VT State Guard. Drill sergeants were in short supply so they put Glenn and I in charge of drilling recruits. Guess we felt pretty important. A group of us were sent to Camp Hale in a few days where I would say 'life began anew'. Glenn and I were never separated from the 1st day in the army until I was wounded in Italy. We were in the same squad and he fixed me when I was wounded. We went to UVM together after the war (class of 1950). He went back in the service, having been in ROTC at UVM. Separation now occurred in our lives but were always in contact. He married while in the service and was discharged after many years in the service. I also married. We got together in VT when possible as he lived in his grandparents house in Bridgewater next to his old home. We both had wonderful families. The Lord chose to separate us in 11/18/2000. My memories are secure."
Why did you join the 10th?: I taught skiing in the 10th in winter of '43.
Ski Patrol: National Ski Patrol, Maple Valley, VT. (10 years)
Ski School: Hogback Mtn, Vermont; Own ski school Keene, NH, Springfield, VT
Role of Skiing in your Life: "I still ski at areas in NE, Suicide Six and Okemo. NC I ski at Sugar Mtn and Snowshoe, WV."
The Museum has in its collection the scrapbooks made by the Cram's mother.
Photograph information: Vern and brother Wendy
Information submitted by: Vern Cram