6th Marine Division (United States)
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| 6th Marine Division (United States) | |
|---|---|
| Unit name | 6th Marine Division |
| Caption | Shoulder sleeve insignia of the 6th Marine Division |
| Dates | 1944–1946; 1952–1963 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Marine Corps |
| Type | Marine division |
| Role | Amphibious warfare |
| Size | Division |
| Nickname | "The Striking Sixth" |
| Battles | World War II |
| Notable commanders | Lemuel C. Shepherd Jr. Gilder D. Jackson Jr. |
6th Marine Division (United States). The 6th Marine Division was a United States Marine Corps infantry division formed during World War II for service in the Pacific War. Activated in 1944, the division saw intense combat during the Battle of Okinawa before undertaking occupation duties in China. It was inactivated after the war, briefly reactivated during the Cold War, and remains a part of Marine Corps lineage.
History
The 6th Marine Division was activated on Guam in September 1944, primarily from units already deployed in the Pacific Theater. Its core was formed around the veteran 1st Provisional Marine Brigade, which had recently fought in the Battle of Guam. The division's creation was part of the Navy Department's expansion to meet the demands of the Pacific War, with its command initially given to Major General Lemuel C. Shepherd Jr.. After a period of intense training, the division was assigned to the III Marine Amphibious Corps for its first and only major combat operation.
Organization
The division followed the standard triangular division structure of the era, centered on three infantry regiments: the 4th Marines, 22nd Marines, and 29th Marines. Supporting units included the 15th Marine Regiment (Artillery), the 6th Tank Battalion, and the 6th Engineer Battalion. This organization was designed for amphibious warfare and sustained combat against the Imperial Japanese Army.
World War II campaigns
The division's sole combat campaign was the pivotal Battle of Okinawa, part of Operation Iceberg. Landing on Okinawa's northern beaches on April 1, 1945, the 6th Division rapidly secured the lightly defended northern two-thirds of the island, including the strategic Motobu Peninsula. It was then redeployed south to the Shuri defensive line, engaging in brutal frontal assaults against formidable positions like the Sugarloaf Hill complex. The division culminated its campaign with the final assault on the Mabuni cliffs, the last Japanese headquarters on Okinawa.
Post-war and inactivation
Following the Surrender of Japan, the division was deployed to China for occupation duty in the Hebei province, arriving in Tianjin in October 1945. Its mission was to oversee the surrender of Japanese forces and maintain stability, operating alongside units of the National Revolutionary Army. The 6th Marine Division was inactivated in China on April 1, 1946, with its personnel and equipment transferred to the 3rd Marine Division. It was briefly reactivated at Camp Lejeune from 1952 to 1963 as a training division during the Korean War and the Cold War.
Commanders
* Major General Lemuel C. Shepherd Jr. (September 1944 – July 1945) * Major General Gilder D. Jackson Jr. (July 1945 – April 1946) * Major General James M. Masters Sr. (1952–1953) * Major General Alan Shapley (1953–1954) * Major General James P. Riseley (1954–1955)
Honors and awards
For its service in World War II, the 6th Marine Division received the Presidential Unit Citation for the Battle of Okinawa. Individual Marines of the division earned numerous valorous decorations, including the Medal of Honor, awarded posthumously to Private First Class Harold Gonsalves of the 4th Marines. The division's lineage and honors are preserved by the 6th Marine Regiment.
Category:United States Marine Corps divisions Category:Military units and formations established in 1944