The 81st Infantry Division, also known as the "Wildcat Division," was formed in 1917 during World War I as part of the U.S. Army's expansion in response to the growing need for troops. The division was initially organized at Camp Jackson, South Carolina, and consisted largely of draftees from a variety of states. The division first saw combat in France in the latter stages of World War I, participating in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, one of the largest and bloodiest campaigns of the war. The 81st's efforts helped secure critical victories and contributed to the eventual armistice that ended the conflict in November 1918.

After World War I, the division was demobilized and served as a U.S. Army Reserve skeletonized cadre division, but was reactivated during World War II in 1942, again consisting of draftees. In 1944, several hundred men from the 63rd and 70th Infantry Divisions were transferred to the 81st Division prior to their deployment to the PTO. During the war, the 81st Infantry Division was sent to the Pacific Theater, where it was involved in the brutal combat of the Pacific island-hopping campaign. One of its most notable achievements was its participation in the Battle of Angaur Island and Battle of Peleliu in late 1944, where the division helped secure the island and push back Japanese forces. 

Following World War II, the 81st Infantry Division was once again inactivated, but its legacy continued through periodic reactivations in the years that followed. The division's history is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of the U.S. Army's infantry, and the "Wildcat" division remains an important part of the Army's storied past. Today, the division is part of the U.S. Army Reserve and is honored for its contributions in both world wars, symbolized by its wildcat emblem and its longstanding tradition of service.