020 30th Infantry Division

Nickname: Old Hickory Division. (After Andrew Jackson’s nickname.) . Shoulder Patch: An oval monogram OH containing Roman numerals, XXX, representing Old Hickory and the 30th. The OH is worn vertically bow although it was first worn in error horizontally. . Source: South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee National Guard troops. . History: Formed (from NG troops): Oct., 1917, Camp Sevier, N. C. Most of training was overseas with the British. Actions: Canal Sector of Ypres, Ypres-Lys offensive, Somme offensive, Bellicourt, LaSalle river, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne. . Training: Called to Federal service: Sept. 16, 1940, Port Jackson. Maneuvers: Carolina, Oct.-Nov., 1941; Tennessee, Sept., 1943. Z.I. ( Zone of Interior ) stations: Camp Blanding, Camp Forrest and Camp Atterbury. Overseas: Feb., 1944 (ETO). . Commanding Generals: Maj. Gen. Henry D. Russell, Dec. 31, 1940, to Apr., 1942; Lt. Gen. (then MG) William H. Simpson, May to July, 1942; Maj. Gen. Leland S. Hobbs, Sept. 9, 1942, to present. . Component Units: (As of Feb., 1944): 117th, 119th and 120th Infantry Regiments; 113th (M), 197th, 118th and 230th (L) FA Battalions. Successive High Commands: First, Seventh and Ninth Armies. . Awards: Distinguished Unit Citation to 1st Battalion, 117th Inf. Regt. for action Aug. 7, 1944, at Mortain; and to Co. E, 117th Inf., for action in Germany, Oct. 16, 1944. . Combat Highlights: The 30th came ashore in Normandy, June 15, 1944, spearheaded the St. Lo breakthrough, kept in the forefront of the fighting all the way to Paris and into Germany. It was the first to enter Belgium and Holland, was one of the first to fan out from the Rhine bridgehead and aid in circling the Ruhr. Old Hickory troops were called “Heroes of the Bulge” when they helped stop Von Rundstedt’s breakthrough. The first mission of the Division on landing in France was to secure high ground north of the Vire et Taute Canal. Le Ray soon fell and the 30th reached the high ground by June 17. There followed rapidly the crossing of the Vire river and penetration to St. Jean-de-Day. At Mortain in August, the 30th was suddenly attacked by five Nazi Armored Divisions aiming at Avranche. The 1st Battalion, 177th Regiment, bore the brunt, using every available man and held fast. Other important actions for the 30th were: capture of Reuilly, crossing of the Seine, the offensive launched near Tournai and Brussels for Horbach, Germany via the Albert Canal and the Meuse river, encirclement of Aachen, crossing of the Ruhr river, and subsequent encirclement of the great Ruhr area. At the end of the war, the 30th Division was stationed at Saalfield.