The United State Army began training select skiers and mountaineers as its first ski troops soon after the onset of World War II, with the National Ski Patrol leading recruitment under its founder, Charles Minot "Minnie" Dole. These units were activated as the 10th Light Division (Alpine) in July 1943 at Camp Hale, Colorado, where soldiers including John D. Magrath, the division's sole World War II Medal of Honor recipient, developed skiing and mountaineering skills in the Colorado Rockies. Re-designated the 10th Mountain Division in November 1944, it was conducting combat patrols in northern Italy by January 1945. On the night of February 18, 1945, the division made a daring climb and surprise assault on Riva Ridge, defeating German defenders, and the next night continued the assault by capturing Mount Belvedere and breaking the German defensive line in the Apennine Mountains. After two more months of intensive combat, the division led the charge across the Po River Valley, becoming the first Allied unit to cross the Po River and advance into the Italian Alps, where the Germans surrendered in Italy on May 2, 1945. During 114 days of combat, nearly 1,000 soldiers were killed in action, and on November 30, 1945, the 10th Mountain Division was deactivated.