About this Unit
The **88th Regional Support Command (88th RSC)** traces its origins to the formation of the 88th Infantry Division during World War I, which was activated in 1917. The division saw significant action in both World Wars, particularly earning distinction during the Italian Campaign in World War II. In the postwar era, it was reorganized and redesignated multiple times, transitioning from a combat division to a support-focused command. Today, the 88th RSC, headquartered at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, provides base operations support and services to Army Reserve units across a 19-state region in the northern United States.
Historical Facts
•
Origins in World War I: The 88th Regional Support Command (RSC) traces its lineage to the 88th Division, which was activated in 1917 during World War I at Camp Dodge, Iowa.
•
Nickname “The Blue Devils”: The 88th Division earned the nickname “The Blue Devils” due to the blue shoulder patch featuring a double quatrefoil, and their fierce reputation in combat.
•
Distinguished WWII Service: In World War II, the 88th Infantry Division became one of the first all-draftee divisions to enter combat, serving with distinction in the Italian Campaign.
•
Capture of Rome: The 88th was instrumental in the liberation of Rome, being among the first Allied units to enter the city on June 4, 1944.
•
Transition to Support Command: In 1996, the unit transitioned from a combat division to a support command, becoming the 88th Regional Support Command, focusing on logistical and administrative support for Army Reserve units.
•
Headquarters at Fort McCoy: The 88th RSC is headquartered at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, providing support across a 19-state region in the upper Midwest.
•
Distinctive Unit Insignia: The 88th's double quatrefoil insignia (two blue figure eights), symbolizes the unit's number and has been a recognizable patch since World War I.
•
Support to Homeland Operations: The 88th RSC has played a key role in supporting homeland defense and disaster relief operations, including responses to floods and other emergencies in its region.
•
Memorialization: The 88th Division Memorial at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minnesota honors the unit’s fallen from World War I and World War II.
•
Ongoing Legacy: Now known as the 88th Readiness Division (as of 2018), the unit continues its legacy of readiness, providing base operations, facility management, and soldier support services to Army Reserve units across the north-central United States.
