Recognizing the exemplary service of the soldiers of the 30th Infantry Division (Old Hickory) of the United States Army during World War II.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 494) recognizing the exemplary service of the soldiers of the 30th Infantry Division (Old Hickory) of the United States Army during World War II, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I request unanimous consent for Members to have the usual 5 days to extend and revise their comments.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may use.

I rise today with strong and enthusiastic support for House Resolution 494. This resolution honors the history of the 30th Infantry Division of the United States Army, a division that was founded in 1918 during World War I and extends until today with its service in Iraq as we currently speak. I also especially want to point out a particular time during August of 1944 when the 30th Infantry Division was engaged in a battle in Mortain, France, a battle that proved to be pivotal in our securing the invasion of Normandy and a battle which the 30th Division, for whatever reason, has not fully received the credit for their bravery and the dedication they showed.

The infantry division that we call the 30th was originally manned by mostly National Guard folks from North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. They took on the nickname of President Andrew Jackson and called themselves the ``Old Hickory'' Division, a nickname which they maintain today.

This division was reactivated prior to World War II and served from the invasion of Normandy in which the 230th Field Artillery of the 30th Division came ashore on Omaha D-day-plus-1. The rest of the division came ashore D-day-plus-2. The units were reunited and fought almost continuously in the days and weeks that followed our invasion of France.

In August of 1944, the much-anticipated German counterattack developed, and the Germans attacked in or near a town, Mortain, France, a place where the 30th Division was at that point protecting our lines.

The generals from Eisenhower on down, the Allied generals, had grown concerned that we were not moving quickly enough to secure the area of Normandy around our invasion beachheads in a way that we could expand throughout France the way that we had anticipated and wanted. The German counterattack thus came with a certain amount of concern: Would we be able to withhold and protect the land that we had already captured? But it also came with a certain amount of opportunity, because if we could hold off this counterattack, then it would create an opportunity for us to outflank the German Army, a maneuver that would eventually be called the St. Lo Breakout. It all depended upon if the 30th Division, the Old Hickory, could hold.

And the 30th Division, taking on the multiple panzer divisions of the German Army, did hold. They scattered into individual units and fought bravely for almost a week. They fought as our American soldiers have fought in the past. They fought bravely and were dedicated against great odds, but they held. And General Bradley was able to send General Patton on the flanking maneuver once again known as the St. Lo Breakout that once and for all secured our beachhead and launched us across France toward the end of World War II.

Eisenhower's chief historian, S.L.A. Marshall, called the 30th the ``most efficient fighting division in Europe.'' The German Army paid the 30th a great compliment in referring to them as ``Roosevelt's

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from Virginia for his support and remarks.

The 30th Division, after its historic stand at the battle of Mortain, fought its way into Belgium in the heavy fighting that took place before the Battle of the Bulge. They fought in the Battle of the Bulge. They crossed the bridge at Remagen, and they shook hands with the Russians on the Elbe River at the end of the war.

The 30th Division has returned to its National Guard identification, centered mostly once again in North Carolina. The 30th, as I mentioned before, is currently in Iraq on its second tour of duty of service to this Nation. So the great tradition of the 30th, the Old Hickory Division, that began during World War I continues today as these troops, men and women, serve our Nation.

Madam Speaker, on a personal note, I would like to add that my father, Richard Henry Kissell, was a sergeant in the 30th Division. He joined the Army in the early part of 1941, and he was with the 30th all the way through. As a member of the 230th Field Artillery, he stepped ashore on the beaches of the Omaha D-day-plus-1, and all of the battles we talked about, my father was there.

But he was just one of many that served our Nation in the 30th and all

the other forces during World War II that we call the ``Greatest Generation,'' that came back and did so much to make this Nation the great Nation that it continues to be today.

So it is with great pride and enthusiasm in noting the aspect of the 30th Division and its relation to not only my State, to my family, but to the Nation that I encourage all my colleagues to join in voting for House Resolution 494 honoring the 30th Division.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 494 as a cosponsor of this important resolution. It honors the 30th Infantry Division of World War II, which included National Guard soldiers from my state of North Carolina, as well as troops from Tennessee. The long history of the 30th Infantry goes back further, though, to include the service of individuals from across the South. Each time they were called to duty, they answered the call with distinction and bravery.

Their service during World War II was particularly exemplary, and I appreciate my colleague Congressman Kissell, whose father served in this division, for bringing forward a resolution to honor their valiant work. The achievements of the 30th Infantry Division were so exemplary that military historians of the day singled it out for distinction as the first among infantry divisions, noting both ``outstanding'' battle service and efficiency that preserved the lives of its members. Eisenhower's chief historian, S.L.A. Marshall, called the 30th the ``most efficient fighting division in Europe.''

Although the 30th Infantry Division was not involved in the actual invasion of Normandy, it engaged in a pivotal battle in Mortain, France that contributed to the Allied victory at Normandy. Serving with bravery and distinction at St. Lo, France, the 30th enabled the Allies to outflank the German Army in what came to be called the St. Lo Breakout. The 30th was also instrumental in breaching the Siegfried Line in October 1944, and the capture of Aachen, Germany. In short, the 30th Division, Old Hickory, played a significant part in our eventual victory over the Axis in WWII.

Today, North Carolina's National Guard soldiers serve with honor in Iraq and Afghanistan, bravely doing their part in defense of our Nation. As they do so, they are part of a valiant heritage that goes back to the founding of our Nation. Each time they are called to service, they do North Carolina and our Nation proud, as they are doing today.

North Carolinians are proud of the service and history of the 30th Infantry Division. 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.

As a cosponsor of H. Res. 494, I strongly support this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring the soldiers that have and continue to protect our freedom.

Madam Speaker, due to the death of a family member, I was absent from the House for the week of November 30 and thus not recorded for any votes that week. Had I been present, I would have voted in the following way on bills considered by the House:

On rollcall vote No. 911, on H.R. 3029, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 912, on H.R. 727, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 913, on H.R. 3667, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 914, on H. Res. 494, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 915, on H. Con. Res. 129, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 916, on H. Res. 861, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 917, on H. Res. 897, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 918, on H.R. 3634, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 919, on H.R. 515, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 920, on H. Con. Res. 197, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 921, on H.R. 1242, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 922, on H.R. 3980, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 923, on the Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule for H.R. 4154, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 924, on H. Res. 941, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 925, on approving the Journal, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 926, on H. Res. 28, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 927, on the Motion to Table the Appeal of the Ruling of the Chair, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 928, on the Motion to Recommit H.R. 4154, I would have voted ``nay'';

On rollcall vote No. 929, on H.R. 4154, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 930, on H.R. 3570, I would have voted ``yea''.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, today I rise in strong support of House Resolution 494, which recognizes the service and sacrifices of the members of the 30th Infantry Division during World War II. And I want to commend Representative Larry Kissell of North Carolina for sponsoring this legislation, for his leadership, and for his deep passion concerning the members of the 30th Infantry.

The 30th Division was a National Guard division made up of men from several States, with many initially coming from North Carolina and Tennessee. These citizen soldiers established a remarkable record in Europe during the operations from 1944 through the end of the war in May of 1945.

So outstanding were their achievements that military historians of the day judged it to be the first among infantry divisions that had performed the most efficient and consistent battle service, achieving results without undue wastage of the lives of men who served in the 30th.

The commitment of the men of the 30th Division to make the sacrifices necessary to finish the mission to defeat an obvious threat to freedom and the security of the world should serve as an example and inspiration to us today. The Nation provided these men the resources necessary to win the war to which they were committed. And our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines have made the same commitment to this Nation today. We must heed the lessons to be learned from the 30th Division and today fully support our troops and their families with the resources necessary for them to finish the job in the wars America is fighting today.

I urge every Member to support this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, unfortunately, I missed the following recorded votes on the House floor on Tuesday, December 1, 2009 and Wednesday, December 2, 2009.

For Tuesday, December 1, 2009, had I been present I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 911, on motion to suspend the

rules and agree to H.R. 3029; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 912, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 727; ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 913, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 3667.

For Wednesday, December 2, 2009, had I been present I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 914, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 494; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 915, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Con. Res. 129; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 916, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 861; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 917, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 897; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 918, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 3634; ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 919, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 515; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 920, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Con. Res. 197; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 921, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 1242; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 922, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 3980.