English prof lectures about ‘The Last Ridge’ Sept 16

3:35 p.m., Sept. 12, 2003--McKay Jenkins, professor of English, will sign copies of his new book, “The Last Ridge,” at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 16, in 127 Memorial Hall as part of a lecture and slideshow about the 10th Mountain Division, the subject of his new book.

During World War II, the 10th Mountain Division was an elite group of soldiers made up of Olympic and recreational skiers, mountain climbers and outdoorsmen who launched the most daring mountain attack in U.S. military history.

“The Last Ridge” tells the complete story of the 10th, from soldiers’ days in training, to their strange mission in the Aleutian Islands, and ultimately their final battle against the Germans in the Apennine Mountains of Italy.

Jenkins’ writing is based on more than 1,000 pages of personal letters written by soldiers training in Camp Hale and fighting in Italy, as well as hundreds of military documents. Jenkins spent hours interviewing family members of the soldiers, as well as surviving members, including Edward “Nick” Nickerson, a retired English professor who founded the journalism program at the University of Delaware.

Nickerson will be a featured guest at the lecture, slideshow and book signing. For more information call 831-1974.

Article by Dean Geddes, AS 2005

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