[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 494 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 494

Recognizing the exemplary service of the soldiers of the 30th Infantry 
 Division (Old Hickory) of the United States Army during World War II.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              June 2, 2009

 Mr. Kissell submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                    the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing the exemplary service of the soldiers of the 30th Infantry 
 Division (Old Hickory) of the United States Army during World War II.

Whereas the 30th Infantry Division of the United States Army was first activated 
        in October 1917 and originally consisted of National Guard units from 
        North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee;
Whereas the 30th Infantry Division was nicknamed Old Hickory in honor of General 
        and President Andrew Jackson;
Whereas, when the 30th Infantry Division was reorganized at Fort Jackson in 1941 
        for service in World War II, the division included two North Carolina 
        National Guard regiments and one regiment from Tennessee;
Whereas, during World War II, the 30th Infantry Division participated in the 
        Normandy campaign, June 6 through July 24, 1944, the advance across 
        Northern France, July 25 through September 14, 1944, the invasion of the 
        German Rhineland, September 15, 1944, through March 21, 1945, the 
        defense of the Ardennes-Alsace, December 16, 1944, through January 25, 
        1945, and the final defeat of Germany, March 22 through May 11, 1945;
Whereas the 823rd Tank Destroyer Battalion was attached to the 30th Division 
        throughout its campaign in Europe;
Whereas the 30th Infantry Division played a key role in the breakout of the 
        Allied forces from Normandy at St. Lo and the subsequent advance across 
        Northern France;
Whereas the 30th Infantry Division is remembered for its role in the defense of 
        Mortain and St. Barthelmy, France, and Hill 317 against a German 
        counterattack in August 1944, actions for which four units of the 
        division and two companies of the 823rd Tank Destroyer Battalion were 
        awarded a Presidential Unit Citation;
Whereas the 30th Infantry Division also played a key role stopping the German 
        advance in the Battle of the Bulge and recaptured Malmedy and Stavelot 
        and its vital bridge over the Ambleve River;
Whereas, in the report prepared for General Dwight D. Eisenhower rating the 
        American combat units that fought in the European Theater, the Army's 
        official historian, S.L.A. Marshall, picked the 30th Division as the 
        finest infantry division to fight in Europe, writing that ``It is the 
        combined judgments of the approximately 35 historical officers who 
        worked on the records and in the field that the 30th merited this 
        distinction. It was our finding that the 30th was outstanding in three 
        operations and we could consistently recommend it for citation on any of 
        these occasions. It was further found that it had in no single instance 
        performed discreditably or weakly and in no single operation had it 
        carried less than its share of the burden or looked bad when compared to 
        the forces on its flanks. We were especially impressed with the fact 
        that it consistently achieved results without undue wastage of its 
        men.'';
Whereas, in recognition of its exemplary service during World War II, the 30th 
        Infantry Division was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation, the 
        Meritorious Unit Citation, and the French Croix de Guerre; and
Whereas the proud fighting tradition of the 30th Infantry Division is 
        perpetuated by the 30th Infantry Brigade, North Carolina Army National 
        Guard: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes the 
exemplary service of the soldiers of the 30th Infantry Division of the 
United States Army during World War II.
                                 <all>