American Expeditionary Forces



30th "Old Hickory" Division

Product Flyers Insignia Nickname
Background Primary Units Campaign Participation

Insignia

[Excerpt from Wyllie, Col. Robert E. "The Romance of Military Insignia."
 The National Geographic Magazine, Vol. XXXVI, No. 6. December, 1919. ]

It was known as the Old Hickory Division, taken from the nickname of the famous Tennessean, Andrew Jackson, and the insignia shows the letter "O" surrounding the letter "H," with the Roman numerals XXX inside the cross-bar of the "H," representing the divisional number, "30." This is worn horizontally, not vertically, as the design reads. This insignia was used on the divisional transport long before the adoption of the shoulder insignia.

[Excerpt from division history]

THE INSIGNIA

The insignia adopted by the Division is a blue elliptically shaped letter "O" on its side, surrounding a blue letter "H" with blue Roman numerals XXX inside the cross bar of the "H," the "H" superimposed on a maroon field.

It is an interesting fact that the alliances and allegiances of today may be with those who in other years were enemies on the field of battle. Andrew Jackson, "Old Hickory," will be always remembered for his amazing and glorious victory over the British at the Battle of New Orleans; his namesake, the "Old Hickory" Division added glory and perpetuation to his name as allies and comrade-in-arms to those who a century before were his adversaries.


Nickname

"Old Hickory" Division.

Background

On 18 July 1917 the National Guard units of North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee were directed to form the 30th Division.  The division was consolidated and trained at Camp Sevier, SC, from 25 August 1917 to 30 April 1918.  Movement overseas completed by 25 June 1918.  The bulk of the division (less artillery and ammunition train) served with the British. 

Primary Units

59th Infantry Brigade:
117th Infantry Regiment
118th Infantry Regiment
114th Machine Gun Battalion

60th Infantry Brigade:
119th Infantry Regiment
120th Infantry Regiment
115th Machine Gun Battalion

55th Field Artillery Brigade:
113th Field Artillery Regiment (75mm)
114th Field Artillery Regiment (75mm)
115th Field Artillery Regiment (155mm)
105th Trench Mortar Battery

Divisional Troops:
113th Machine Gun Battalion
105th Engineer Regiment
105th Field Signal Battalion
105th Train Headquarters and MP
105th Ammunition Train
105th Supply Train
105th Engineer Train
105th Sanitary Train (Ambulance Companies & Field Hospitals 117, 118, 119, 120)

Campaign Participation

 

 

Campaign Streamers (most units):
Flanders
Ypres-Lys
Somme Offensive

Artillery units & 105th Ammunition Train: Lorraine, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne

U. S. Victory Medal Clasps (most units):
Somme Offensive
Ypres-Lys
Defensive Sector

 

 

Product Flyers

DB 30-1: 30th Division, Division Histories

DB 30-2: 30th Division, Infantry Regiments

 

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