10th Mountain Division honored with helmet patch for Army football home opener

WEST POINT, N.Y. (WWTI) - The 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum was honored during the Army football team's home opener last weekend.

The division had its patch worn on the back of the Black Knights' helmets during the Sept. 5 season opener against Bryant.

For the whole season, Army players will wear division patches on the backs of their helmets to recognize the history, accomplishments and continued service of Army divisions.

The West Point campus and Fort Drum do share connections, as Assistant professor and personnel officer in the Department of History and War Studies at West Point Lt. Col. Paul Belmont spent much of his career with the division.

Belmont returned to Fort Drum after a tour at West Point to do his key development time as a major with 1st and 3rd Brigades, and it is truly what he calls 'home.'

"I have owned two homes in Watertown, I love North Country," said Belmont, who has rented those homes to many 10th Mountain Soldiers. "I loved being a Knight Hawk, a Spartan and a Warrior. I went back to Iraq with my GO and back to Afghanistan as an Iron Major."

The football team has honored Fort Drum before, as it wore white uniforms in the Black Knights' 14-13 win in December 2017 over the rival United States Naval Academy.

Army cruised past Bryant for a 59-3 victory on Sept 5.