[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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