[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 21]
[House]
[Pages 28967-28969]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE EXEMPLARY SERVICE OF THE 30TH INFANTRY DIVISION DURING 
                              WORLD WAR II

  Mr. KISSELL. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (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, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 494

       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 infantry 
     regiments, one Tennessee National Guard infantry regiment, 
     and other elements;
       Whereas, during World War II, the 30th Infantry Division 
     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 823rd and the 743rd Tank Destroyer Battalions 
     were periodically 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 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 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, rated the 30th Division as first among the infantry 
     divisions that had performed the most efficient and 
     consistent battle service, writing that ``It was the combined 
     judgments of the approximately 35 historical officers who had 
     worked on the records and in the field that the 30th had 
     merited this distinction. It was our finding that the 30th 
     has been 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 when considering 
     against the average of the Theater and that in no single 
     operation had it carried less than its share of the

[[Page 28968]]

     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 Headquarters Company of the 30th Infantry 
     Division was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation and 
     the French Croix de Guerre; and
       Whereas the proud fighting tradition of the 30th Infantry 
     Division 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 of the United States Army during World War II.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Kissell) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. 
Wittman) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina.


                             General Leave

  Mr. KISSELL. Madam Speaker, I request unanimous consent for Members 
to have the usual 5 days to extend and revise their comments.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from North Carolina?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. KISSELL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may use.
  I rise today with strong and enthusiastic support for House 
Resolution 494. This resolution honors the history of the 30th Infantry 
Division of the United States Army, a division that was founded in 1918 
during World War I and extends until today with its service in Iraq as 
we currently speak. I also especially want to point out a particular 
time during August of 1944 when the 30th Infantry Division was engaged 
in a battle in Mortain, France, a battle that proved to be pivotal in 
our securing the invasion of Normandy and a battle which the 30th 
Division, for whatever reason, has not fully received the credit for 
their bravery and the dedication they showed.

                              {time}  1030

  The infantry division that we call the 30th was originally manned by 
mostly National Guard folks from North Carolina, South Carolina, 
Georgia, and Tennessee. They took on the nickname of President Andrew 
Jackson and called themselves the ``Old Hickory'' Division, a nickname 
which they maintain today.
  This division was reactivated prior to World War II and served from 
the invasion of Normandy in which the 230th Field Artillery of the 30th 
Division came ashore on Omaha D-day-plus-1. The rest of the division 
came ashore D-day-plus-2. The units were reunited and fought almost 
continuously in the days and weeks that followed our invasion of 
France.
  In August of 1944, the much-anticipated German counterattack 
developed, and the Germans attacked in or near a town, Mortain, France, 
a place where the 30th Division was at that point protecting our lines.
  The generals from Eisenhower on down, the Allied generals, had grown 
concerned that we were not moving quickly enough to secure the area of 
Normandy around our invasion beachheads in a way that we could expand 
throughout France the way that we had anticipated and wanted. The 
German counterattack thus came with a certain amount of concern: Would 
we be able to withhold and protect the land that we had already 
captured? But it also came with a certain amount of opportunity, 
because if we could hold off this counterattack, then it would create 
an opportunity for us to outflank the German Army, a maneuver that 
would eventually be called the St. Lo Breakout. It all depended upon if 
the 30th Division, the Old Hickory, could hold.
  And the 30th Division, taking on the multiple panzer divisions of the 
German Army, did hold. They scattered into individual units and fought 
bravely for almost a week. They fought as our American soldiers have 
fought in the past. They fought bravely and were dedicated against 
great odds, but they held. And General Bradley was able to send General 
Patton on the flanking maneuver once again known as the St. Lo Breakout 
that once and for all secured our beachhead and launched us across 
France toward the end of World War II.
  Eisenhower's chief historian, S.L.A. Marshall, called the 30th the 
``most efficient fighting division in Europe.'' The German Army paid 
the 30th a great compliment in referring to them as ``Roosevelt's 
S.S.''
  It's for these reasons that we want to honor the 30th and its history 
and especially to draw recognition to the battle of Mortain, France, a 
time in which the 30th held in a most important time period for our 
invasion to be successful and secured.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, today I rise in strong support of House Resolution 
494, which recognizes the service and sacrifices of the members of the 
30th Infantry Division during World War II. And I want to commend 
Representative Larry Kissell of North Carolina for sponsoring this 
legislation, for his leadership, and for his deep passion concerning 
the members of the 30th Infantry.
  The 30th Division was a National Guard division made up of men from 
several States, with many initially coming from North Carolina and 
Tennessee. These citizen soldiers established a remarkable record in 
Europe during the operations from 1944 through the end of the war in 
May of 1945.
  So outstanding were their achievements that military historians of 
the day judged it to be the first among infantry divisions that had 
performed the most efficient and consistent battle service, achieving 
results without undue wastage of the lives of men who served in the 
30th.
  The commitment of the men of the 30th Division to make the sacrifices 
necessary to finish the mission to defeat an obvious threat to freedom 
and the security of the world should serve as an example and 
inspiration to us today. The Nation provided these men the resources 
necessary to win the war to which they were committed. And our 
soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines have made the same commitment to 
this Nation today. We must heed the lessons to be learned from the 30th 
Division and today fully support our troops and their families with the 
resources necessary for them to finish the job in the wars America is 
fighting today.
  I urge every Member to support this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. KISSELL. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from Virginia for 
his support and remarks.
  The 30th Division, after its historic stand at the battle of Mortain, 
fought its way into Belgium in the heavy fighting that took place 
before the Battle of the Bulge. They fought in the Battle of the Bulge. 
They crossed the bridge at Remagen, and they shook hands with the 
Russians on the Elbe River at the end of the war.
  The 30th Division has returned to its National Guard identification, 
centered mostly once again in North Carolina. The 30th, as I mentioned 
before, is currently in Iraq on its second tour of duty of service to 
this Nation. So the great tradition of the 30th, the Old Hickory 
Division, that began during World War I continues today as these 
troops, men and women, serve our Nation.
  Madam Speaker, on a personal note, I would like to add that my 
father, Richard Henry Kissell, was a sergeant in the 30th Division. He 
joined the Army in the early part of 1941, and he was with the 30th all 
the way through. As a member of the 230th Field Artillery, he stepped 
ashore on the beaches of the Omaha D-day-plus-1, and all of the battles 
we talked about, my father was there.
  But he was just one of many that served our Nation in the 30th and 
all the other forces during World War II that we call the ``Greatest 
Generation,'' that came back and did so much

[[Page 28969]]

to make this Nation the great Nation that it continues to be today.
  So it is with great pride and enthusiasm in noting the aspect of the 
30th Division and its relation to not only my State, to my family, but 
to the Nation that I encourage all my colleagues to join in voting for 
House Resolution 494 honoring the 30th Division.
  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 494 
as a cosponsor of this important resolution. It honors the 30th 
Infantry Division of World War II, which included National Guard 
soldiers from my state of North Carolina, as well as troops from 
Tennessee. The long history of the 30th Infantry goes back further, 
though, to include the service of individuals from across the South. 
Each time they were called to duty, they answered the call with 
distinction and bravery.
  Their service during World War II was particularly exemplary, and I 
appreciate my colleague Congressman Kissell, whose father served in 
this division, for bringing forward a resolution to honor their valiant 
work. The achievements of the 30th Infantry Division were so exemplary 
that military historians of the day singled it out for distinction as 
the first among infantry divisions, noting both ``outstanding'' battle 
service and efficiency that preserved the lives of its members. 
Eisenhower's chief historian, S.L.A. Marshall, called the 30th the 
``most efficient fighting division in Europe.''
  Although the 30th Infantry Division was not involved in the actual 
invasion of Normandy, it engaged in a pivotal battle in Mortain, France 
that contributed to the Allied victory at Normandy. Serving with 
bravery and distinction at St. Lo, France, the 30th enabled the Allies 
to outflank the German Army in what came to be called the St. Lo 
Breakout. The 30th was also instrumental in breaching the Siegfried 
Line in October 1944, and the capture of Aachen, Germany. In short, the 
30th Division, Old Hickory, played a significant part in our eventual 
victory over the Axis in WWII.
  Today, North Carolina's National Guard soldiers serve with honor in 
Iraq and Afghanistan, bravely doing their part in defense of our 
Nation. As they do so, they are part of a valiant heritage that goes 
back to the founding of our Nation. Each time they are called to 
service, they do North Carolina and our Nation proud, as they are doing 
today.
  North Carolinians are proud of the service and history of the 30th 
Infantry Division. We thank soldiers for safeguarding freedom and our 
way of life, in World War II and today in Afghanistan and Iraq. These 
courageous soldiers accomplished feats of heroism and bravery which 
preserved a way of life on two continents. They represent a proud 
fighting tradition and have earned every accolade we can give.
  As a cosponsor of H. Res. 494, I strongly support this legislation, 
and I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring the soldiers that have 
and continue to protect our freedom.
  Mr. KISSELL. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Kissell) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 494, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. KISSELL. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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