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30th Infantry Division

The 30th Division got to France a little later than some, but once it started moving it made up for lost time. Joining the Allied assault on the Germans on June 15, 1944, the Division crossed the Vire River and headed for St.Lô, and was soon spearheading the breakthrough out of the hedgerows of Normandy onto the plains of central France. By August 6 the “Old Hickory” Division—nicknamed after the World War I National Guardsmen from the Carolinas, Georgia, and Tennessee, Andrew Jackson’s old stamping grounds—had advanced to Mortain and relieved the 1st Infantry Division there.

Everything seemed under control when the Division was suddenly hit by five German armored divisions, hoping to push through to the sea at Avranches and thus split the American First and Third Armies. The brunt of the assault landed on the 1st Battalion of the 117th Infantry Regiment, which threw every available man into the line, stemmed the attack, and was cited for its gallantry. One group of Old Hickory men, cut off for five and a half days, replied to a German surrender demand by saying, “Go to hell! We wouldn’t surrender even if our last round of ammo were fired and our last bayonet were broken off in a Boche belly.” The Germans never threatened to touch the sea again.

The Old Hickory didn’t rest long there. It took Reuilly, crossed the Seine, and by September, had begun an offensive that carried through to Tournai and Brussels and gave it the distinction of being one of the first American divisions to enter Belgium and Holland. Traveling to Belgium, the 30th covered 180 miles in 72 hours. After crossing the Albert Canal and the Meuse, capturing the fortress of Eben Emael, and liberating Maastricht, the 30th got ready to assault the Siegfried Line.

The attack began on October 2. The next day the Old Hickory men, with only their own artillery and basic weapons in support, had broken through the massive fortifications of the line at Palemberg and Rimburg. By October 16 the 30th had made contact with the 1st Infantry Division, crashing the line in another sector, and the two outfits had encircled Aachen. The 30th fought on into the defensive crust of Germany, and abandoned its forward movement only when the Rundstedt counteroffensive made it necessary for the Division to swing back to the Malmédy-Stavelot sector of the Ardennes and join the fight there.

The 30th took care of its share of the counterattack so effectively that the Germans, convinced that no run-of-the-mill division could have treated them the way it did, began calling it “Roosevelt’s SS Troops.”

When the Allies began rolling again, the Old Hickory reverted to its role of pacemaker. It crossed the Roer, raced for the Rhine, was one of the first outfits to break out from the bridgehead there, and helped to bottle up thousands of enemy soldiers in the Ruhr pocket. By the end of the war, it was stationed at Saalfeld, in Germany.

The oval shoulder patch of the 30th has a story behind it. Its original design embodied an “OH” and the Roman numeral “XXX.” In 1918, when the 30th smashed the Hindenburg Line and earned 12 out of 78 Medals of Honor and more than half of all British decorations awarded to Americans, the first shipment of manufactured insignia arrived in Europe for the Old Hickory men to wear. A bunch of Doughboys, receiving them with no explanation of the symbolism, sewed them on sideways. After a while the Division got used to that, and for a long time the 30th considered it right to wear its patch wrong. Finally, in World War II, the Old Hickory men turned their patch back up on end.

From Fighting Divisions, Kahn & McLemore, Infantry Journal Press, 1945-1946.

30th Infantry Division World War II Missing in Action

There are 88 soldiers of the 30th Infantry Division World War II still listed as missing in action.

  Technician Fourth Grade Joseph E. Barbour 113th Field Artillery Battalion 06/15/1944
  First Sergeant Noah W. Barfield Headquarters Company 02/14/1945
  Technician Fifth Grade Willie Barker 120th Infantry Regiment 12/25/1944
  Sergeant Clyde W. Beachen 113th Field Artillery Battalion 06/15/1944
  First Lieutenant Charles H. Bernard 117th Infantry Regiment 09/17/1944
  Private Alphonse H. Bertels 120th Infantry Regiment 07/25/1944
  Staff Sergeant George W. Bland 119th Infantry Regiment 07/24/1944
  Private First Class Earl L. Bohrer 120th Infantry Regiment 12/25/1944
  Private Claude O. Bramlet 119th Infantry Regiment 07/23/1945
  Technician Fifth Grade Robert T. Burruss 120th Infantry Regiment 12/25/1944
  Private Steve W. Carroll 113th Field Artillery Battalion 06/15/1944
  Technician Fifth Grade Bernard W. Clark 120th Infantry Regiment 12/25/1944
  Technician Fifth Grade Virgle Cleland 120th Infantry Regiment 12/25/1944
  Staff Sergeant James B. Collier 113th Field Artillery Battalion 06/15/1944
  Private First Class Joseph A. Consiglio 120th Infantry Regiment 12/25/1944
  Private Holland P. Dalton 119th Infantry Regiment 07/26/1945
  Private Glenn W. Davenport 120th Infantry Regiment 08/09/1945
  Corporal James S. Davis 113th Field Artillery Battalion 06/15/1944
  Technician Fifth Grade John F. Dotson 120th Infantry Regiment 12/25/1944
  Private Joseph J. Dotterweich 119th Infantry Regiment 03/16/1946
  Private First Class Anthony T. Drabecki 119th Infantry Regiment 09/28/1945
  Private First Class Namon C. Duke 120th Infantry Regiment 12/25/1944
  Technician Fifth Grade Clarence M. Edwards 113th Field Artillery Battalion 06/15/1944
  Technician Fifth Grade Donald B. Edwards 113th Field Artillery Battalion 06/15/1944
  Private First Class Zane A. Flynn 120th Infantry Regiment 08/08/1945
  Sergeant Harry W. Foreman 117th Infantry Regiment 03/01/1946
  Corporal Merton Frankel 119th Infantry Regiment 06/26/1944
  Staff Sergeant John V. Gainey 120th Infantry Regiment 12/25/1944
  Private First Class Albert Gerstein 120th Infantry Regiment 12/25/1944
  Private First Class Clyde W. Gladson 120th Infantry Regiment 12/25/1944
  Warrant Officer Junior Grade Robert Gordon 119th Infantry Regiment 03/24/1945
  Second Lieutenant Arthur K. Greeno 120th Infantry Regiment 08/07/1944
  Private First Class Cleatus E. Hall 120th Infantry Regiment 07/25/1944
  Private Otis G. Hall 113th Field Artillery Battalion 06/15/1944
  Technician Fifth Grade Orville R. Herl 120th Infantry Regiment 12/25/1944
  Technician Fifth Grade Robert T. Hingston 120th Infantry Regiment 12/25/1944
  Private John A. Hussli 113th Field Artillery Battalion 06/15/1944
  Private First Class Raymond A. Ibe 119th Infantry Regiment 02/24/1945
  Private First Class James Ison 119th Infantry Regiment 02/01/1945
  Private First Class Lucious R. Lawson 120th Infantry Regiment 08/20/1944
  Private First Class Hubert Leffew 120th Infantry Regiment 08/08/1945
  Staff Sergeant Joseph C. Lewis 120th Infantry Regiment 12/25/1944
  Private Raymond A. Lohmann 117th Infantry Regiment 08/07/1944
  Private Donald E. Lyons 120th Infantry Regiment 10/20/1944
  Corporal Jacob C. Marshall 113th Field Artillery Battalion 06/15/1944

  Technician Fourth Grade John W. Martin 113th Field Artillery Battalion 06/15/1944
  Corporal Edward P. McGovern 120th Infantry Regiment 07/25/1944
  Private Cecil E. McLendon 113th Field Artillery Battalion 06/15/1944
  Staff Sergeant Charles A. Mew 120th Infantry Regiment 07/19/1944
  Private First Class Donald A. Mongeon 120th Infantry Regiment 12/25/1944
  Sergeant Howard G. Murray 117th Infantry Regiment 07/29/1944
  Sergeant John E. Nelms 113th Field Artillery Battalion 06/15/1944
  Private Auther O. Nelson 117th Infantry Regiment 10/08/1944
  Private Duane W. Payne 117th Infantry Regiment 10/09/1945
  Technician Fifth Grade Merlyn W. Pearson 120th Infantry Regiment 12/25/1944
  First Lieutenant Foster S. Pease 120th Infantry Regiment 06/22/1944
  Technician Fifth Grade John Perez 120th Infantry Regiment 12/25/1944
  Private Arthur C. Probst 120th Infantry Regiment 07/25/1944
  Private Albert P. Ramirez 113th Field Artillery Battalion 06/15/1944
  Technician Fifth Grade Wiley G. Ratcliff 113th Field Artillery Battalion 06/15/1944
  Private First Class Eugene C. Reigel 120th Infantry Regiment 12/25/1944
  Private First Class Jose A. Rios 120th Infantry Regiment 08/08/1945
  Private First Class Dominic N. Rosa 120th Infantry Regiment 12/25/1944
  Staff Sergeant Thomas J. Ryan 120th Infantry Regiment 12/25/1944
  Private First Class Elden D. Schaefer 120th Infantry Regiment 08/01/1945
  Private Outra Schroader 113th Field Artillery Battalion 06/15/1944
  Second Lieutenant Leo W. Shields 120th Infantry Regiment 07/20/1944
  Private First Class Paul J. Sickler 120th Infantry Regiment 06/22/1944
  Sergeant Paul F. Simonson 117th Infantry Regiment 10/09/1945
  Technician Fourth Grade Donald J. Small 120th Infantry Regiment 12/25/1944
  First Lieutenant Albert A. Smith 120th Infantry Regiment 08/07/1944
  Technician Fifth Grade Walter A. Snyder 120th Infantry Regiment 12/25/1944
  Private First Class Feliciano J. Solano 119th Infantry Regiment 08/24/1945
  Technician Fifth Grade William S. Srp 113th Field Artillery Battalion 06/15/1944
  Private First Class Ervin C. Staples 120th Infantry Regiment 12/25/1944
  Private John H. Staples 119th Infantry Regiment 07/02/1944
  Sergeant Bennie Summey 117th Infantry Regiment 03/01/1946
  Private J. C. Swanger 113th Field Artillery Battalion 06/15/1944
  Sergeant John J. Tierney 120th Infantry Regiment 08/07/1944
  Private First Class John F. Udovic 113th Field Artillery Battalion 06/15/1944
  Technical Sergeant Wade J. Verweire 119th Infantry Regiment 09/28/1945
  Sergeant Francis J. Vidrine 117th Infantry Regiment 08/07/1944
  Sergeant Phillip J. Wade 119th Infantry Regiment 10/04/1944
  Private First Class Melvin Weiner 120th Infantry Regiment 12/25/1944
  Private Robert D. Wilkie 120th Infantry Regiment 02/23/1945
  Corporal James A. Wilkins 113th Field Artillery Battalion 06/15/1944
  Private Harry J. Williams 120th Infantry Regiment 10/20/1944
  Private William E. Zimmerman 117th Infantry Regiment 10/17/1945

Patches - Insignia

30th Infantry Division World War II patch, front view
30th Infantry Division World War II patch, back view

"Old Hickory Division"

The "Old Hickory" Division shoulder patch was designed for 30th Division troops of World War I in honor of President Andrew Jackson, Tennessee statesman who led troops from Tennessee and the Carolinas in the War of 1812. When this insignia was first issued in France in 1981, it was inadvertently worn with the "O" on its side, but was changed in 1940 to the upright position. The insignia combines the initials "O" and "H" and the Roman numeral "XXX" in blue, with an oval-shaped background in red.

COMMAND AND STAFF

Commanding General

22 Feb 1944 Maj Gen Leland S Hobbs

Assistant Div Commdr

22 Feb 1944 Brig Gen William K Harrison

Arty Comdr

22 Feb 1944 Brig Gen John E Lewis
10 May 1944 Brig Gen Raymond S McLain
28 Jul 1944 Brig Gen James M Lewis

CofS

22 Feb 1944 Col Jesse L Gibney

ACofS G-1

22 Feb 1944 Lt Col John W Dandridge
15 Apr 1944 Lt Col James W Perkins (Actg)
31 May 1944 Lt Col John W Dandridge

ACofS G-2

22 Feb 1944 Maj Stewart L Hall
1 Jun 1944 Lt Col Stewart L Hall

ACofS G-3

22 Feb 1944 Lt Col Harold E Hassenfelt

ACofS G-4

22 Feb 1944 Lt Col Walter L Frankland

ACofS G-5

24 Feb1944  Lt Col Montgomery Campbell
28 Sep 1944 Maj Shirley R Marsh

Adj Gen

22 Feb 1944 Lt Col James W Perkins
25 Apr 1944 Maj Marshall T Kamena (Actg)
31 May 1944 Lt Col James W Perkins

CO 117th Inf

22 Feb 1944 Col Henry E Kelly
23 Jul 1944 Lt Col Walter M Johnson
5 Oct 1944 Col Walter M Johnson

CO 119th Inf

22 Feb 1944 Col Col Alfred V Ednie
15 Jul 1944 Col Edwin M Sutherland
27 Dec 1944 Col Russel A Baker
28 Mar 1945 Col Harry D McHugh
6 Apr 1945 Col Russell A Baker

CO 120th Inf

22 Feb 1944 Col Hammond Birks
7 Oct 1944 Col Branner P Purdue

 

STATISTICS

Chronology

Inducted 16 Sep 40
Arrived ETO 22 Feb 44
Arrived Continent (D/8)  14 Jun 44
Entered Combat:  15 Jun 44
First Elements 10 Jul 44
Entire Division 15 Jul 44
Days in Combat  282

Casualties (Tentative)

Killed 3435
Wounded 12,960
Missing 753
Captured 543
Battle Casualties 17,691
Non-Battle Casualties 8,347
Total Casualties 26,038
Percent of T/O Strength 184.8

Campaigns

  • Normandy
  • Northern France
  • Ardennes
  • Rhineland
  • Central Europe

Individual Awards

DSC 65
Legion of Merit 12
Silver Star 1,718
Soldiers Medal 11
Bronze Star 6,319
Air Medal 153
D Flying Cross
3

PWs Taken 50,146

COMPOSITION

ORGANIC UNITS

  • 117th Infantry
  • 119th Infantry
  • 120th Infantry
  • 30th Reconnaissance Troop (Mecz)
  • 105th Engineer Combat Battalion
  • 105th Medical Battalion
  • 30th Division Artillery
  • 118th Field Artillery Battalion (105 Howitzer)
  • 197th Field Artillery Battalion (105 Howitzer)
  • 230th Field Artillery Battalion (105 Howitzer)
  • 113th Field Artillery Battalion (155 Howitzer)
  • Special Troops
  • 730th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company
  • 30th Quartermaster Company
  • 30th Signal Company
  • Military Police Platoon
  • Headquarters Company
  • Band

 

ATTACHMENTS

Antiaircraft Artillery

531st AAA AW Bn (Mbl) 4 Mar 44-29 Oct 44
430th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) 24 Oct 44-18 Nov 44
531st AAA AW Bn (Mbl) 5 Nov 44-27 Jan 45
Btrys B&C 143d AAA Gun Bn 21 Dec 44-1 Jan 45
Btry D 639th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) 21 Dec 44-5 Jan 45
110th AAA Gun Bn (Mbl) 21 Dec 44-5 Jan 45
11th AAA Gp 23 Dec 44-24 Dec 44
531st AAA AW Bn (Mbl) 2 Feb 45-24 Jun 45
571st AAA AW Bn (SP) 21 Mar 45- 25 Mar 45

Armored

743d Tk Bn 1 Mar 44-23 Jun 45
CC B (3d Armd Div) 9 Jul 44-17 Jul 44

33d Armd Regt (3d Armd Div)

 9 Jul 44-17 Jul 44

36th Armd Inf (-3d Bn) (3d Armd Div)

 9 Jul 44-17 Jul 44

Co D 63d Armd Rcn Bn (3d Armd Div)

 9 Jul 44-17 Jul 44
Co B 23d Armd Engr Bn (3d Armd Div) 9 Jul 44-17 Jul 44
Co B 703d TD Bn (SP) 9 Jul 44-17 Jul 44
Btry B 413th AAA Gun Bn (Mbl) 9 Jul 44-17 Jul 44
CC B (3d Armd Div) 7 Aug 44-12 Aug 44
33d Armd Regt (3d Armd Div 7 Aug 44-12 Aug 44
36th Armd Inf (3d Amrd Div) 7 Aug 44-12 Aug 44
391st Armd FA Bn (3d Armd Div) 7 Aug 44-12 Aug 44
83d Armd Rcn Bn (3d Armd Div) 7 Aug 44-12 Aug 44
Cos B & D 23d Armd Engr Bn (3d Armd Div) 7 Aug 44-12 Aug 44
Det Co E 23d Armd Engr Bn (3d Armd Div) 7 Aug 44-12 Aug 44
87th Armd FA Bn 7 Aug 44-12 Aug 44
Co C 703d TD Bn (SP) 7 Aug 44-12 Aug 44
Co B (-3d Plat) 703d TD Bn (SP) 7 Aug 44-12 Aug 44
Btrys A & D 486th AAA AW Bn (SP) 7 Aug 44-12 Aug 44
3d Bn 66th Armd Regt (2d Armd Div) 12 Oct 44-22 Oct 44
7th Armd Gp 20 Nov 44-17 Dec 44
740th Tk Bn 19 Dec 44-28 Dec 44
CC B (3d Armd Div) 20 Dec 44-24 Dec 44
33d Armd Regt (-3d Bn) (3d Armd Div) 20 Dec 44-24 Dec 44
2d Bn 36th Armd Inf (3d Armd) 20 Dec 44-24 Dec 44
Co D 23d Armd Engr Bn (3d Armd) 20 Dec 44-24 Dec 44
744th Tk Bn 7 Feb 45-28 Feb 45
Tr A Br 1st Lothian Border Yeo 23 Feb 45-4 Mar 45
CC B (2d Armd Div) 26 Feb 45-27 Feb 45
744th Tk Bn 9 Mar 45-30 Mar 45
Co C 736th Tk Bn 11 Mar 45-27 Mar 45
Co D 18th Tk Bn (8th Armd Div) 17 Mar 45-25 Mar 45
66th Armd Regt (2d Armd Div) 17 Apr 45-19 Apr 45

Cavalry

17th Cav Rcn Sq 20 Nov 44-17 Dec 44
113th Cav Gp 7 Feb 45-1 Mar 45
113th Cav Gp 1 Apr 45-3 Apr 45
125th Cav Rcn Sq 1 Apr 45-5 Apr 45
113th Cav Gp 8 Apr 45-23 Apr 45
125th Cav Rcn Sq 9 Apr 45-23 Apr 45
113th Cav Gp 6 May 45-7 May 45

Chemical

Co D 81st Cml Mort Bn 20 Jun 44-1 Jul 44
92d Cml Mort Bn 3 Jul 44-7 Jul 44
92d Cml Mort Bn 10 Jul 44-1 Aug 44
Co C 92d Cml Mort Bn 5 Nov 44-23 Nov 44
Co A 86th Cml Mort Bn 25 Dec 44-24 Jan 45
Co C 87th Cml Bn 25 Jan 45-2 Feb 45
83d Cml SG Co 6 Feb 45-27 Feb 45
Btry C 92d Cml Mort Bn 6 Feb 45-28 Feb 45
89th Cml Mort Bn 10 Mar 45-10 Mar 45
92d Cml Mort Bn 10 Mar 45-4 Apr 45
74th Cml SG Co 23 Mar 45-25 Mar 45

Engineer

246th Engr C Bn 18 Jul 44-28 Jul 44
4th Plat 604th Engr C Bn 6 Aug 44-28 Aug 44
4th Plat Co B 602d Engr C Bn 1 Oct 44-11 Oct 44
291st Engr C Bn 21 Dec 44-27 Dec 44
1153d Engr C Gp 6 Mar 45-25 Mar 45

Field Artillery

227th FA Bn (29th Div)(155 How)  14 Jun 44-15 Jun 44
58th FA Bn 15 Jun 44-3 Jul 44
203d FA Bn (155 How) 6 Jul 44-24 Jul 44
58th FA Bn 10 Jul 44-28 Jul 44
391st Armd FA Bn 10 Jul 44-28 Jul 44
18th FA Bn (105 How) 18 Jul 44-28 Jul 44
188th FA Gp 6 Aug 44-15 Aug 44
142d FA GP 6 Aug 44-15 Aug 44
283d FA Bn (105 How) 15 Aug 44-7 Sep 44
70th FA Bn (105 How) 4 Nov 44-6 Dec 44
909th FA Bn 84th Div (105 How) 11 Nov 44-26 Nov 44
401st FA Gp 1 Dec 44-14 Jan 45
187th FA Bn (155 How) 2 Dec 44-14 Jan 45
229th FA Bn (28th Div) (105 How) 5 Dec 44-11 Jan 45
400th Armd FA Bn 18 Dec 44-26 Jan 45
941st FA Bn (4.5" Gun) 19 Dec 44-20 Dec 44
391st FA Bn 20 Dec 44-24 Dec 44
18th FA Bn (105 How) 20 Dec 44-24 Dec 44
460th FA Bn (75 How) 23 Dec 44-25 Dec 44
76th FA Bn (105 How) 24 Dec 44-1 Jan 45
87th FA Bn (155 Gun) 26 Dec 44-14 Jan 45
809th FA Bn (155 How) 31 Dec 44-5 Jan 45
401st FA Gp 31 Dec 44-14 Jan 45
Btry A 290th FA Obsn Bn 31 Dec 44-14 Jan 45
60th Prcht FA Bn (Non-Div) 17 Jan 45-23 Jan 45
751st FA Bn (155 How) 6 Feb 45-1 Mar 45
25th FA Bn (105 How) 6 Feb 45-1 Mar 45
2d Armd Div Arty 7 Feb 45-27 Feb 45
25th FA Bn (105 How) 10 Mar 45-11 Mar 45
65th FA Bn (105 How) 10 Mar 45-11 Mar 45
751st FA Bn (155 How) 10 Mar 45-21 Mar 45
691st FA Bn (105 How) 11 Mar 45-29 Mar 45
275th Armd FA Bn 14 Mar 45-27 Mar 45
35th Div Arty 16 Mar 45-25 Mar 45
407th FA Gp 25 Mar 45-29 Mar 45

211th FA Bn (4.5" Gun)

 25 Mar 45-29 Mar 45

258th FA Bn (155 Gun)

 25 Mar 45 29 Mar 45
203d FA Bn (155 How) 8 Apr 45-8 May 45
70th FA Bn (105 How) 14 Apr 45-5 May 45

Infantry

12th Inf (4th Div)  7 Aug 44-12 Aug 44
42d FA Bn (4th Div) (105 How) 7 Aug 44-12 Aug 44
1st plat Co C 634th TD Bn (SP) 7 Aug 44-12 Aug 44
1st Bn 116th Inf (29th Div) 30 Sep 44-25 Oct 44
3d Bn 116th Inf (29th Div) 12 Oct 44-24 Oct 44
406th Inf (102d Div) 25 Oct 44-6 Nov 44
1st Bn 406th Inf (102d Div) 7 Nov 44-9 Nov 44
335th Inf (84th Div) 11 Nov 44-26 Nov 44
517th CT (Non-Div) 17 Dec 44-20 Jan 45
1st Bn 551st Prcht Inf (Non-Div) 21 Dec 44-25 Dec 44
526th Armd Inf Bn (Non-Div) 27 Dec 44-16 Jan 45
99th Inf Bn (Non-Div) 27 Dec 44-16 Jan 45
112th CT (28th Div) 5 Jan 45-11 Jan 45
290th CT (75th Div) 26 Mar 45-27 Mar 45
137th Inf (35th Div) 14 Apr 45-14 Apr 45

Tank Destroyer

803d TD Bn (SP)  17 Jun 44-17 Jun 44
823d TD Bn (SP)  24 Jun 44-27 Jun 44
823d TD Bn (SP)  3 Jul 44-24 Jun 45
Co C 772d TD Bn (T) 8 Dec 44-11 Jan 45
Co A 825th TD Bn (T) 12 Jan 45-16 Jan 45
801st TD Bn (SP) 25 Feb 45-28 Feb 45
807th TD Bn (SP) 18 Mar 45-27 Mar 45
801st TD Bn (SP) 1 Apr 45-5 Apr 45
Co C 801st TD Bn (SP) 9 Apr 45-19 Apr 45

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