Camp Hale Colorado

World War Ii

Camp Hale, Colorado, was a U.S. Army training facility established in 1942 near Leadville, Colorado, primarily known for training the 10th Mountain Division during World War II. Situated at 9,200 feet in the Rocky Mountains, it was chosen for its rugged terrain and harsh climate, ideal for preparing soldiers for alpine and winter warfare. The camp trained troops in skiing, mountaineering, and cold-weather combat, contributing to the 10th Mountain Division’s success in campaigns like the Italian Alps. It was decommissioned in 1945 but briefly reactivated during the Cold War.

CIA Training Camp

From 1959 to 1964, Camp Hale was used by the CIA for a covert operation to train Tibetan guerrillas as part of a program to support resistance against Chinese occupation of Tibet. Under the code name ST CIRCUS, the CIA, in collaboration with the U.S. Army, trained approximately 2,000 Tibetan fighters in paramilitary tactics, including weapons handling, sabotage, and guerrilla warfare. The operation aimed to disrupt Chinese control following the 1959 Tibetan uprising. Trainees were airlifted to Tibet or operated from bases in Nepal, but the program had limited success and was terminated in 1964 amid improving U.S.-China relations.

Conclusion

Guerrilla Operations in Tibet: Many of the approximately 2,000 trained Tibetans were airlifted into Tibet or infiltrated from bases in Nepal, particularly Mustang, to conduct insurgent operations against Chinese forces. They carried out ambushes, disrupted supply lines, and gathered intelligence. The Chushi Gangdruk, a Tibetan resistance group, was a primary beneficiary, using CIA-trained fighters to wage low-level warfare. However, these operations were often small-scale and struggled against the overwhelming Chinese military presence.

Mustang Base Operations: A significant number of trainees operated from a CIA-supported base in Mustang, Nepal, from the late 1950s to the early 1970s. They launched cross-border raids into Tibet, targeting Chinese infrastructure and troops. The Mustang operation initially showed promise but faced logistical challenges and declining support as U.S. priorities shifted.