[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1187 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1187

Recognizing the exemplary service of the soldiers of the 30th Infantry 
       Division of the Army during World War I and World War II.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 17, 2022

   Mr. DesJarlais (for himself, Mr. Cooper, and Mr. Murphy of North 
Carolina) 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 of the Army during World War I and World War II.

Whereas the 30th Infantry Division of the Army was first activated in October 
        1917 for service in World War I;
Whereas the 30th Infantry Division was nicknamed ``Old Hickory'' in honor of 
        General and President Andrew Jackson;
Whereas the 30th Infantry Division ``Old Hickory'' was composed of troops from 
        Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, and was 
        instrumental in breaking the Hindenburg Line in World War I;
Whereas when the 30th Infantry Division ``Old Hickory'' was reorganized at Fort 
        Jackson in 1941 for service in World War II, the division included two 
        North Carolina National Guard infantry regiments, one Tennessee National 
        Guard infantry regiment, and other elements;
Whereas Company B of the 117th Regiment of the 30th Infantry Division ``Old 
        Hickory'' was composed of members of the Tennessee National Guard from 
        Athens, Tennessee, who also served in World War II;
Whereas Company B was composed of 5 officers and 100 troops, all of whom were 
        from Tennessee;
Whereas 22 of those troops became officers in prominent positions in the Army;
Whereas, in 1940, one year after Nazi Germany invaded Poland, thereby starting 
        World War II, the War Department reactivated the 30th Infantry Division 
        ``Old Hickory'';
Whereas, in 1944, the 30th Infantry Division ``Old Hickory'' was deployed to the 
        United Kingdom to participate in the planned Allied landing in Europe;
Whereas after arriving in Europe during World War II, the 30th Infantry Division 
        ``Old Hickory'' engaged directly in battle alongside the British Armed 
        Forces;
Whereas during World War II, the 30th Infantry Division ``Old Hickory'' landed 
        at Normandy on June 14, 1944, participated in the advance across 
        northern France, joined the invasion of the German Rhineland, defended 
        the Ardennes-Alsace, and fought to the final defeat of Germany in May 
        1945;
Whereas the 823d and the 743d Tank Destroyer Battalions were periodically 
        attached to the 30th Division throughout its campaign in Europe;
Whereas the 30th Infantry Division ``Old Hickory'' 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 ``Old Hickory'' is remembered for its role in 
        the defense of Mortain and St. Barthelemy, France, and Hill 317 against 
        a German counterattack in August 1944, actions in which three infantry 
        regiments of the division (the 117th, 119th, and 120th) and a part of a 
        fourth regiment and other elements of the division participated;
Whereas the 30th Infantry Division ``Old Hickory'' also played a key role in 
        stopping the German advance in the Battle of the Bulge and recaptured 
        Malmedy and Stavelot and the vital bridge over the Ambleve River;
Whereas, in March 1945, the 30th Infantry Division ``Old Hickory'' crossed the 
        Rhine and quickly advanced to Magdeburg by April 17, 1945;
Whereas while the 30th Infantry Division ``Old Hickory'' moved eastward into 
        Germany, it liberated Weferlingen, a subcamp of the Buchenwald 
        concentration camp, on April 12, 1945;
Whereas at Weferlingen, the troops found 421 inmates who were in poor physical 
        condition due to malnutrition and in dire need of medical attention;
Whereas representatives of the 30th Infantry Division ``Old Hickory'' arranged 
        for mayors of the German towns neighboring Weferlingen to immediately 
        furnish food for the starving inmates;
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, rated the 30th Division as first 
        among the infantry divisions that had performed the most efficient and 
        consistent battle service;
Whereas, in 2012, the 30th Infantry Division ``Old Hickory'' was recognized as a 
        liberating unit by the United States Army Center of Military History and 
        the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum;
Whereas in recognition of its exemplary service during World War II, the 
        Headquarters Company of the 30th Infantry Division ``Old Hickory'' was 
        awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation and the French Croix de 
        Guerre; and
Whereas the proud fighting tradition of the 30th Infantry Division ``Old 
        Hickory'' is perpetuated by the 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team, 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 ``Old 
Hickory'' of the Army during World War II.
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