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81st Infantry Division

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Article Genealogy
Parent: Mariana and Palau Islands campaign Hop 4
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1. Extracted56
2. After dedup17 (None)
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81st Infantry Division
Unit name81st Infantry Division
CaptionShoulder sleeve insignia of the 81st Infantry Division
Dates1917–1919, 1942–1946
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Army
TypeInfantry
SizeDivision
Nickname"Wildcat Division"
BattlesWorld War I, World War II
Notable commandersCharles H. Barth, Paul J. Mueller
Identification symbol labelDistinctive unit insignia

81st Infantry Division. The 81st Infantry Division was a formation of the United States Army that served in both World War I and World War II. Known as the "Wildcat Division," it was activated in 1917 and saw combat in the final months of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Reactivated for World War II, the division fought extensively in the Pacific Theater of Operations, including campaigns in the Palau Islands and the Philippines Campaign (1944–1945).

History

The division was first constituted in August 1917, shortly after the American entry into World War I, at Camp Jackson, South Carolina. It deployed to France in the summer of 1918, joining the American Expeditionary Forces under General John J. Pershing. After the Armistice of 11 November 1918, the division remained in Europe for occupation duty before returning to the United States and being deactivated in 1919. It was reactivated at Camp Rucker, Alabama, in June 1942 for service in World War II, where it was assigned to the Pacific Ocean Areas command.

Organization

During World War I, the division was organized under the square division structure, comprising the 161st Infantry Brigade and the 162nd Infantry Brigade, along with supporting units like the 156th Field Artillery Brigade. For World War II, it was reorganized as a triangular division, with its core infantry regiments being the 321st, 322nd, and 323rd Infantry Regiments. Key supporting elements included the 306th Engineer Battalion, the 306th Medical Battalion, and the division artillery, which consisted of several field artillery battalions.

Commanders

Notable commanders of the division included Major General Charles H. Barth, who led the unit during its initial activation and training at Camp Jackson in World War I. During its combat deployment in France, it was commanded by Brigadier General George H. McManus. In World War II, the division was commanded for most of its service by Major General Paul J. Mueller, who led it through the campaigns in the Palau Islands and the Philippines. Other senior officers included Brigadier General Marcus B. Bell, who served as assistant division commander.

Campaigns and battles

In World War I, the division entered the line in the Vosges sector in September 1918 and participated in the latter stages of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. During World War II, its first major combat operation was the Battle of Angaur in the Palau Islands in September 1944, a costly fight to secure an airfield. Following this, the division provided critical support during the intense Battle of Peleliu by securing surrounding islands. In 1945, it took part in the Philippines Campaign (1944–1945), conducting operations on Mindanao and clearing Japanese forces from the Visayas islands, including Cebu and Negros.

Honors and awards

Soldiers of the division received numerous individual decorations for valor, including the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, and the Bronze Star Medal. The division itself was awarded the Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation for its service during the Philippines Campaign (1944–1945). Several of its subordinate units, such as the 321st Infantry Regiment, received Presidential Unit Citations for extraordinary heroism during the Battle of Angaur.

Legacy

The division's distinctive Wildcat shoulder sleeve insignia, designed by a member of the 321st Infantry in World War I, is one of the oldest and most recognized in the United States Army. The division was inactivated in Japan in 1946 following the Surrender of Japan. Its lineage and honors are perpetuated today, with several Army National Guard units, particularly in the Southeastern United States, tracing their heritage to elements of the "Wildcat Division." The division's history is commemorated at the National Infantry Museum in Fort Benning, Georgia.

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