During that time, the 81st ARCOM was responsible for deploying US Army Reserve units to Vietnam, Southwest Asia, and the Balkans.

In its place, a reorganized 81st Regional Support Command (RSC) was activated at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

Instead, the 81st RSC provided Base Operations (BASOPS) support to 497 Army Reserve units in nine southeastern states plus Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

The division was originally organized with a small cadre of Regular Army, in addition to Officers Reserve Corps and National Army officers, while the soldiers were predominantly Selective Service men drawn from the southeastern states of Florida, North Carolina, and Tennessee.

After finishing training, the 81st Division, commanded by Major General Charles Justin Bailey, deployed to Europe, arriving on the Western Front in August 1918.

Elements of the 81st Division first saw limited action by defending the St. Dié sector in September and early October.

Furthermore, some more daring country boys in uniform trapped a Carolina wildcat (presumably a bobcat) near the creek, and adopted the snarling beast as the division mascot.

The cat symbol and the motto "Obedience, Courage, Loyalty" were officially adopted in the War Department General Order #16 of 24 May 1918.

[10] The 81st Division commander, Major General Charles J. Bailey, went a step further in creating a distinctive shoulder patch for his men after seeing similar items in use by Allied troops on the Western Front.

Sergeant Dan Silverman, a soldier in the headquarters of the 321st Infantry, created several concept sketches for review by General Bailey.

[11] Out of the concept sketch was created a circular olive drab cloth patch with a wildcat silhouette surrounded by a black border.

To further differentiate the elements of the division, specific colors were assigned the subordinate brigades, support trains and separate battalions.

[12] The new wildcat insignia not only served as a ready means of identification, but helped to foster unit pride and esprit-de-corps.

When the 81st Division arrived in New York City to embark for Europe, the port commander not only ordered the removal of the patches, but cabled the War Department to report the breach of uniform regulations.

By the time the War Department replied with orders to remove the patch, the 81st Division had already sailed from New York.

As the 81st Division was moving into the Vosges sector of France, a War Department telegram arrived from the Adjutant General of the American Expeditionary Forces.

This authorization is extended today to the 81st Readiness Division (RD) currently located at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

The division headquarters usually conducted its summer training there, and on a number of occasions, participated in command post exercises (CPXs).

[18] The 81st Infantry Division was ordered into active military service for World War II in June 1942 at Camp Rucker, Alabama.

The 81st Infantry Division remained engaged in the Battle of Peleliu until the end of organized Japanese resistance on 18 January 1945.

In May 1945, the 81st Infantry Division was deployed to the Philippines to take part in mopping up operations on Leyte Island, and to prepare for the planned invasion of Japan.

After the end of World War II, the 81st Infantry Division deployed to Aomori Prefecture in Japan as part of the Allied occupation force.

As part of the 1962 reorganization of the reserve components initiated by Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, the 81st Infantry Division was selected for inactivation, which was completed on 31 December 1965.

The division arrived in Leyte on 17 May 1945, and after a period of training participated in mopping-up operations in the northwest part of the island, 21 July 1945 to 12 August 1945.

After rest and training, the 81st moved to Japan, 18 September, and performed occupation duties in Aomori Prefecture until inactivation.