The 324th Infantry was constituted in the National Army on 5 August 1917, and assigned to the 162d Infantry Brigade, 81st Division. The 324th Infantry Regiment was organized on 29 August 1917 at Camp Jackson, South Carolina, made up predominantly of Selective Service men from North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. After completion of training at Camp Jackson, the 81st Division (including the 324th Infantry) moved to Camp Sevier, South Carolina to absorb additional selective service men and complete final preparations for deployment. The 81st Division sailed from the United States in July-August 1918, and after a short stop in rest camps in England, the division consolidated at the 16th (Tonnerre) Training area in France. The 81st Division, less the organic 156th Artillery Brigade, remained at Tonnerre until 14 September 1918, when the division moved to the St. Dié sector for "front-line training," a stint of service in a quiet sector designed to give the new soldiers exposure to combat without undue risk. The 81st Division, and French 20th Division relieved the American 92d Division in the St. Dié sector on 20 September, where the 81st Division remained until being relieved by the Polish 1st Division on 19 October. Afterwards, the 81st Division marched to Rambervillers, France to begin preparations for the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.