These were World War II Ski Troopers of the 10th Mountain Division on maneuvers in the Gore Range of the Colorado Rockies. Dusenbery draws from his own experiences as he describes the rigorous mountain training at 9,000 to 12,000 foot elevations. The D. Series maneuvers were the culmination of high mountain training for the Division. Its veterans still talk about D. Series as being a truly memorable experience.
Within a few weeks, while still at Camp Hale in Colorado, Dusenbery wrote his account of the ordeal. His graphic narrative forms the basis for this book. At the same time, Wilson P. Ware was recording his experiences by drawing twenty-two sketches. The narrative has been skillfully linked with the extraordinary sketches in a vivid account of man's struggles against the sudden storms, numbing cold and fierce winds in the high mountains.
