Memorial 30th Infantry Division "Old Hickory" Thirimont

This memorial commemorates the men of the 120th Infantry Regiment of the 30th Infantry Division ‘Old Hickory’, the 743rd Tank Battalion and the 823rd Tank Destroyer Battalion during the recapture of the village of Thirimont in January 1945.

Between 13 and 15 January 1945, they fought under harsh winter conditions with units of the 31st German Parachute Division for possession of Hill 551 and the recapture of the village previously occupied by the Germans during the Battle of the Bulge offensive.

The battle rippled up and down but by 15 January, at the cost of some 450 killed and wounded, the village was once again in US hands.

Near the monument are two plaques with personal testimonies and information on the course of the battle. On the rock is a plaque with the following text:

‘In memory of the brave men of the 120th IR of the 30th Infantry Division, who with the 734th Tank Bataillon and 823rd Tank Distroyer Bataillon, recaptered this village at the cost of heavey losses after three days of fighting against German paratroopers".

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Source

• Text: TracesOfWar
• Photos: Miranda Sijbers
• SCHOOTBRUGGE, EGBERT VAN DE, De 30e divisie, Omniboek, Utrecht, 2023.