FRED A. NAGEL PAPERS
SCOPE AND CONTENT
The collection spans 1933-2001 with the bulk of the material from 1983-1995. Nagel's National Association of the 10th Mountain Division correspondence and his personal correspondence comprise the bulk of the material. Additional records include reunion planning documents, manuscripts, membership rosters, minutes, notes, obituaries, news clippings, articles and memorabilia.
Correspondence, commendations, articles, flyers, rosters, news clippings, newsletters, chronologies, memos, bylaws, scrapbooks and memorabilia comprise the bulk of the series. Records are arranged alphabetically by subject and then chronologically. Additional material includes National Association of the 10th Mountain Division reunion correspondence, schedules, planning documents and agendas.
126th Mountain Engineer Battalion reunion records comprise the bulk of the material in the series. Included are correspondence, news clippings, applications, and schedules. Additional material comprises histories of the Battalion and of Nagel's Company D.
The series includes Chapter records consisting of budgets, rosters, correspondence, minutes, reports, agendas and flyers. The series is arranged alphabetically by subject and then chronologically.
The series includes personal correspondence, which primarily comprises letters that Nagel wrote and received pertaining to his affiliation with the 126th Mountain Engineers Battalion and the National Association of the 10th Mountain Division. The series includes correspondence, notes, cards, unidentified correspondence and National Association plaques. Materials are arranged alphabetically by and then chronologically.
Photographs span 1944 to 1993. The bulk of the photographs document 10th Mountain Division and 126th Mountain Engineering Battalion reunions. Also included are a limited number of photographs from Camp Hale and Italy. A photograph album, which documents the dedication of the 10th Mountain Division statue at Fort Drum, New York also forms part of the series.
Dates
- 1933-2001
ACCESS:
The collection is open for research.
OWNERSHIP:
Fred A. Nagel papers are the physical property of the Denver Public Library.
COPYRIGHT:
All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from material in the collection should be discussed with the appropriate librarian or archivist. Permission for publication may be given on behalf of the Denver Public Library as the owner of the physical item. It is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained by the customer. The Library does not assume any responsibility for infringement of copyright or publication rights of the manuscript held by the writer, heirs, donors, or executors. Reproduction restrictions are decided on a case-by-case basis.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Fred Nagel was born on August 26, 1919 in Monterrey, Mexico where his father worked as a mining engineer. The family moved to Denver, Colorado when he was two years old. Nagel graduated from Denver's East High School in 1936 and entered the Colorado School of Mines the same year. Upon graduation in 1940, Nagel joined the U.S. Gypsum Company at Heath, Montana, where he worked as a quality control tester and later as wallboard superintendent.
Nagel joined the Army in June 1942. Following a reserve officer refresher course at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, he worked on the Alaska-Canadian Highway with the Army Corps of Engineers. Nagel joined the 10th Light Division (Alpine) at Camp Hale, Colorado in October 1943 and was assigned to the 126th Mountain Engineer Battalion. He participated in the grueling D-Series maneuvers in the Spring of 1944. When the Division moved to Camp Swift in June 1944, Nagel participated in river crossing exercises. The 126th Engineers deployed to Italy on January 5, 1945 on board the transport General Miegs. They arrived at Naples, Italy on January 18.
During combat operations in Italy, Nagel commanded Company D, of the 126th Mountain Engineering Battalion. Nagel's company built the only aerial tramway to be constructed under enemy fire during the 10th Mountain Division's battle for Riva Ridge and Mount Belvedere in February 1945. Without this tramway, holding Riva Ridge against German counter attacks might well have been impossible. Nagel's Company D also made the first assault crossing of the Po River on April 23, 1945. In addition, Company D worked to keep supply routes open by clearing mine fields and repairing roads. Following his service with the 10th Mountain Division, Nagel was recalled to active duty during the Korean War and served with the 44th Construction Engineer Battalion.
During his varied career Nagel served as sales engineer for precut cedar log houses, right of way negotiator for the Colorado Highway Department, general manager of a bridge building company, highway engineer, computer consultant and sanitation engineer.
Nagel married Lois Corretore on July 3, 1948. Fred and Lois had three children. Fred Nagel was very active with the National Association of the 10th Mountain Division, and participated in numerous reunions. He died in Denver, Colorado on March 22, 2008.
Extent
2 Boxes
1 PhotoBoxes
1 Photo OVBoxes
Language of Materials
English
Other Finding Aids
PROVENANCE:
Gift;Fred A. Nagel;1999-2007. papers were donated by Fred Nagel between 1999 and 2007.
SIZE:
Boxes: 2
PhotoBoxes: 1
Photo OVBoxes: 1
LOCATION:
TMD6
PROCESSED AND ENCODED BY:
Kathryn Sutton
Dennis Hagen
2007
REVISED AND ENCODED BY:
Dennis Hagen
September 2009
PROJECT MANAGER:
Ellen Zazzarino
- Camp Hale (Colo.) Subject Source: Lcnaf
- Military maneuvers -- Cold weather conditions. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- National Association of the 10th Mountain Division, Inc.
- Ski troops. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Soldiers -- United States -- Correspondence. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- United States. -- Army. -- Mountain Division, 10th.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- FRED A. NAGEL PAPERS
- Date
- September 2009
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Denver Public Library, Western History and Genealogy Repository
