[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 147 (Wednesday, September 28, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1394]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  IN HONOR OF THE OLD HICKORY DIVISION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. RICHARD HUDSON

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 28, 2016

  Mr. HUDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Old Hickory 
Division for their service during World War II.
  This October 2nd will mark the 72nd Anniversary of the 30th Infantry 
Division's crossing into Germany during World War II and smashing 
through Adolph Hitler's vaunted Westwall. The Westwall was designed to 
keep American forces from driving into the heart of the Ruhr Industrial 
area, but American forces broke through, destroying Germany's ability 
to supply its armies.
  The 30th Infantry Division, a National Guard Division made up of 
young men from the Carolinas, Tennessee and Georgia was part of that 
force that broke through the German lines. The 30th Infantry Division 
was proudly called ``Old Hickory'' after Andrew Jackson, the 7th 
President of the United States.
  In less than 100 days after landing on the beaches of Normandy, these 
men first kept the routes between Omaha and Utah Beach--the two 
principal American landing sites--open. They then led the charge 
through the Normandy hedgerows down to Saint-Lo, France. Next, they 
were the division that spearheaded the Normandy breakout in late July.
  Less than two weeks later--in what was agreed to by both American and 
German commanders as the turning point of World War II in Europe--Old 
Hickory managed to hold off the onslaught of four German panzer 
divisions during a fight at Mortain, France that numbered nearly 80,000 
Germans against 13,000 brave soldiers from Old Hickory.
  By the 2nd of October, 1944, 72 years ago next week, the 30th 
infiltrated into France and became the first infantry division into 
Belgium and the Netherlands. This was the longest and fastest military 
incursion in history.
  Two weeks later the men of Old Hickory broke up a massive 
counterattack put on by the 1st SS Panzer Corps and closed the Aachen 
Gap, which cut off all supply and reinforcement lines into the ancient 
imperial city of Aachen and forced its surrender on the 21st of 
October, 1944. This was the first large German city to be captured by 
the Allies in WWII.
  The 30th followed this success with a rapid advance around the north 
side of the Ruhr Industrial Pocket, capturing Brunswick and finally 
capturing Magdeburg on the Elbe River on the 17th of April 1945.
  The 30th met the Russian army at Magdeburg and remained in occupation 
there throughout the month of May when it was turned over to the 
Russians, as part of their designated occupation territory. This 
brought the end of the war for the 30th Infantry Division.
  After war's end in 1946, General Dwight Eisenhower directed his 
historian of the European Theater to draw up a rating sheet and rank 
all of the divisions that fought there.
  There were 42 infantry divisions in all.
  His staff of 35 officers came to a quick and near unanimous 
consensus. Old Hickory was merited with the distinction of being the 
top-rated infantry division in all three major operations performed in 
Europe during World War II.
  A Presidential Unit Citation honoring these men for this achievement 
was recommended that very same year. But it was never awarded.
  Following the end of conflict in Europe, the 30th returned to Ft. 
Jackson, SC and was deactivated on the 25th of November 1945.
  On this anniversary of the crucial breaching of Hitler's vaunted 
Westwall and subsequent capture of Aachen, I ask this body to pause and 
remember. Remember the achievements and sacrifice of those members of 
the greatest generation who belonged to the ``most outstanding infantry 
division'' in the European Theater in World War II, the 30th Infantry 
Division, the Workhorse of the Western Front.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me today in recognizing the 30th Infantry 
Division for their outstanding service and sacrifice during World War 
II.

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