Washington, D.C. -— Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-Lillington) joined Rep. Larry Kissell (D-Concord) last week to vote to recognize the achievements of the 30th Infantry Division (Old Hickory) of the United States Army during World War II.
The 30th Infantry Brigade, portions of which are headquartered throughout North Carolina, was reflagged in 1995 with the 30th Infantry Division’s flag to honor the previous division’s WWII service. The resolution, H.Res. 494, passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 415-0.
“North Carolinians are proud of the service and history of the 30th Infantry Division,” Etheridge said. “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.”
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. The division was nicknamed Old Hickory in honor of General and President Andrew Jackson.
In 1941 the division was reorganized during World War II. The unit participated in military action in the Normandy campaign, the advance across Northern France, the invasion of the German Rhineland, and the final defeat of Germany in 1945. The Army’s official historian, S.L.A. Marshall, picked the 30th Division as the finest infantry division to fight in Europe.