HISTORY OF THE US 81st Division (Wildcat Division)

World War One and THE 81ST WILDCAT DIVISION (And information of the 316th)

The United States Army’s 81st Division was first comprised of men that were drafted from Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina on September 5, 1917. Theire first title was the “Stonewall Division” in honor of Confederate General T J. Jackson. Later they were renamed the “Wildcat Division.” The wildcat shoulder patch was adopted, and was the first insignia worn by troops in the American Expeditionary Force (AEF).  I am still editing this post, and will include links to patches and history when I get the time.

photo of 316th Wildcats patch

The division was organized near Columbia South Carolina at Camp Jackson. 

It was one of the first national army divisions to be organized. In May 1918 the 81st Division was sent to Camp Sevier, near Greenville, South Carolina, and in July 1918 it was sent to New York to be shipped overseas.  August 1918 the 81st Division went to England then to France to fight the Germans.

The division was sent to the American 1st Army on October 19, 1918, and November entered the front lines.  After the war the 81st Division remained in France for more than five months.  The men were shipped back to the United States in early June 1919 and discharged from service.

REACTIVATON OF THE 81ST DIVISION

The 81st Division was reactivated on June 15th 1942.   It was overseas July 3rd, 1944, and after 166 days of combat inactivated on January 30th, 1946 in Japan.  Campaigns were in the Western Pacific, & South Philippines.

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81st Division – Primary Units

161st Infantry Brigade:
321st Infantry Regiment
322d Infantry Regiment
317th Machine Gun Battalion

162d Infantry Brigade:
323d Infantry Regiment
324th Infantry Regiment
318th Machine Gun Battalion

156th Field Artillery Brigade:
316th Field Artillery Regiment (155mm)
(These are the guys in  the pictures above)
317th Field Artillery Regiment (75mm)
318th Field Artillery Regiment (75mm)
306th Trench Mortar Battery

Divisional Troops:
316th Machine Gun Battalion
306th Engineer Regiment
306th Field Signal Battalion
306th Train Headquarters and MP
306th Ammunition Train
306th Supply Train
306th Engineer Train
306th Sanitary Train (Ambulance Companies &
Field Hospitals 321, 322, 323, 324)

Insignia of the Wildcat Division  – The cat is in different colors, according to the brigade
BLACK – Headquarters, Machine Gun Battalion, and Engineers
WHITE – One Hundred and Sixty-first Infantry Brigade
LIGHT BLUE – One Hundred and Sixty-second Infantry Brigade
RED – One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Field Artillery Brigade and Ammunition Train
BUFF – Field Signal Battalion, orange; Sanitary Train, green, and Supply Train

Commanders of the 81st Division during World War One
Brig. Gen. Charles H. Barth      August 28th, 1917
Maj. Gen. Charles J. Bailey      October 8th, 1917
Brig. Gen. Charles H. Barth      November 24th, 1917
Brig. Gen. G.W. McIver           December 28th, 1917
Maj. Gen. Charles J. Bailey       March 11th, 1918
Brig. Gen. G.W. McIver           May 19th, 1918
Brig. Gen. Munroe McFarland   May 24th, 1918
Maj. Gen. Charles J. Bailey       May 30th, 1918
Brig. Gen. G.W. McIver           June 9th, 1918
Maj. Gen. Charles J. Bailey       July 3rd, 1918

Commanders of the 81st Division during World War Two
Maj. Gen. Gustave H. Franke (June-August 1942)
Maj. Gen. Paul J. Mueller (August 1942 to inactivation)

WORLD WAR ONE – 316th Field Artillery

 Newport News, VA after the end of World War One

World War One photo 316th F.A. A.E.F Jun 10th, 1919 Size: 8″ x 47″

“F.A.” stands for Field Artillery, and “A.E.F.” stands for American Expeditionary Forces.  Photo by Halliday Photo  On the photograph it is listed as “Photo #3917” These photos were taken at Newport News, Virginia on June 10th 1919, which was at the end of World War One when the soldiers were ready to be discharged from the Army.

All my research identifies these men as the “Fighting Wildcats” of the US Army’s 81st Division. First named the “Stonewall” Division, later nicknamed the “Wildcat Division”.  Their slogan was “Wildcats Never Quit”.  And their shoulder patch was a wildcat.

photo of 316th Wildcats patch

World War One – Bat. “D” 316 F.A. (Field Artillery) A.E.F  (American Expeditionary Forces)

This photograph says at the bottom Battery (or Battalion) “D” The 316th Field Artillery, The American Expeditionary Forces.  Photo taken by Halliday Photo at Newport News, Virginia.  On the photograph it is listed as “Photo # 3927″  Size: 8″ x 26”

Antique panorama of World War One 316th Field Artillery

SEE ALSO: HISTORY OF THE US 81st Division (Wildcat Division) Which I will post after this one.
You can see a larger version of both of these photos on http://www.jewelantique.com/PhotographicPage1.html