Presidential Unit Citation Awarded To Surviving Members Of World War II's Old Hickory Infantry Division

KEY POINTS

The U.S. 30th Infantry Division, nicknamed Old Hickory, was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation in a ceremony nearly four months after President Trump awarded it to the World War II division
The division is best known for its involvement in the Battle of Mortain, where German Panzer divisions launched a counterattack against Allied forces in France two months after the D-Day invasions in 1944
Surviving members of the division attended a small ceremony either in-person or virtually, based on each man's respective health condition

The surviving members of the 30th Infantry Division finally received their Presidential Unit Citation four months after President Trump awarded it to the World War II veterans. Trump awarded the division members in March, but was forced to delay the ceremony because of the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.

The division, also known as Old Hickory, was formed using primarily National Guard troops from North Carolina and its neighboring states. Old Hickory's most famous engagement came on Aug. 6, 1944, as the division was among the main Allied force pushing through France following the D-Day invasion. Multiple German Panzer divisions attack the 30th while it was stationed in the French town of Mortain as part of a counterattack dubbed Operation Lüttich.

Fighting went on for six days before the German offensive was stalled after losing around 120 tanks and were forced to retreat. Allied forces suffered between 2,000 and 3,000 casualties from the fighting, with Old Hickory suffering heavy losses.

Despite calls from historians to recognize the division for its efforts in helping stop the counterattack, bureaucracy and Army award policies prevented the division from being recognized. This sentiment was shared by surviving members of the division, who were awarded in a small ceremony on Saturday. Any that could not make it participated by livestream.

“It's an achievement that was long overdue, but having gotten it, it fills the gap that we have been recognized for what we did over there,” King Kenny, 96, told Raleigh NBC-affiliate WRAL.

Fellow division veteran Tony Jaber, 95, said he would gladly trade the Battle of Mortain for the Battle of the Bulge.

“I would take six months in the Bulge over six days in Mortain,” Jaber told WRAL. “Those were the hardest days of the war for me.”