81st Division (United States)

81st Division (United States)
Unit name	81st Division
Caption	Shoulder sleeve insignia of the 81st Division
Dates	1917–1919; 1921–1946; 1947–1965
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army
Type	Infantry
Size	Division
Nickname	"Wildcat Division"
Motto	Deprendo (I Seize)
Battles	World War I, World War II

81st Division (United States) The 81st Division was an infantry division of the United States Army that served in both World War I and World War II. Known as the "Wildcat Division," it was first organized during the World War I mobilization and later reactivated for the Pacific War. The division is most recognized for its distinctive shoulder sleeve insignia, one of the first adopted by the American Expeditionary Forces, and its combat operations on the islands of Angaur and Peleliu.

History

The 81st Division was constituted in the National Army on 5 August 1917, shortly after the American entry into World War I. It was organized at Camp Jackson, South Carolina, drawing its personnel primarily from the Southern states. Following its service in World War I, the division was demobilized in June 1919. It was reconstituted in the Organized Reserve in 1921, with its headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. The division was ordered into active military service on 15 June 1942, during World War II, and was reorganized as a standard infantry division at Camp Rucker, Alabama.

Organization

During World War I, the division's core infantry components were the 161st and 162nd Infantry Brigades, containing the 321st, 322nd, 323rd, and 324th Infantry Regiments. Its artillery brigade was the 156th Field Artillery Brigade. In its World War II configuration, the division comprised the 321st, 322nd, and 323rd Infantry Regiments, along with the 306th, 307th, 308th, and 903rd Field Artillery Battalions. Supporting units included the 306th Engineer Combat Battalion and the 306th Medical Battalion.

World War I service

The 81st Division arrived in France in August 1918, commanded by Major General Charles J. Bailey. It did not enter the line as a complete division but provided critical replacement troops to other units engaged in major offensives like the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Elements of the division saw defensive duty in the Vosges sector and near Saint-Dié-des-Vosges. The division's most lasting contribution from this period was the official adoption of its shoulder sleeve insignia featuring a wildcat, approved by General John J. Pershing, which set a precedent for all American Expeditionary Forces units.

World War II service

After training in the United States and the Pacific Theater, the 81st Division, under Major General Paul J. Mueller, saw its first combat in the Palau Islands campaign. In September 1944, it secured Angaur after intense fighting and then reinforced the 1st Marine Division in the brutal Battle of Peleliu. Following this, the division performed garrison duty on Peleliu and Angaur before being deployed to the Philippines in 1945, where it fought on Leyte and prepared for the invasion of Japan. The division was inactivated in Japan on 20 January 1946.

Post-World War II

The 81st Infantry Division was reactivated in the Organized Reserve in December 1947, headquartered in Atlanta. It remained a training and readiness formation throughout the Cold War. The division was finally inactivated on 31 December 1965, as part of a reorganization that disbanded the Reserve divisional structure in favor of separate brigades.

Commanders

Notable commanders of the 81st Division included Major General Charles J. Bailey during its World War I service. In World War II, the division was led by Major General Gustave H. Franke during its initial activation and training, and later by Major General Paul J. Mueller, who commanded it through its combat operations in the Palau Islands and the Philippines.

Category:Infantry divisions of the United States Army Category:Military units and formations established in 1917 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1965