Thousands of soldiers compete in honor of Battle of Hürtgen Forest

FORT CARSON, Colo. (KRDO) -- More than 3,200 4th Infantry Division Soldiers from 30 battalions competed in a grueling physical training event Wednesday morning on post in remembrance of the Battle of Hürtgen Forest.

It consisted of five obstacles designed to test Soldiers’ mental and physical resilience, ability to work as a cohesive team and build Esprit de Corps. 

This year marks the 77th anniversary of the Battle of Hürtgen Forest. Fought between September 1944 and February 1945, it was one of the bloodiest battlegrounds for U.S. troops during World War II including the Ivy Division which suffered more than 4,000 casualties. 

Teams consisting of 104 Soldiers each worked to navigate through tank ditches, tangle wire, and containers over the harsh Fort Carson terrain, while also carrying more than 500 pounds of equipment.