6th Marine Division Merchandise

"The Striking Sixth" -

The 6th Marine Division was activated on September 7, 1944, on Guadalcanal in the southern Solomon Islands. It was formed from three infantry regiments, the 4th Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Regiment and 29th Marine Regiment, along with other supporting units. The core cadre was primarily built from the former 1st Provisional Marine Brigade, which included veterans from battles like Guam and Saipan.

The 6th Marine Division underwent intensive training on Guadalcanal between October and January 1945, covering everything from basic drills to complex battle strategies. The training paid off when the division landed on Okinawa on April 1, 1945, as part of the III Amphibious Corps. Their initial objectives included the capture of Yontan Airfield and protection of the northern flank.

Despite facing a Japanese battalion, the 6th Marine Division met only light resistance initially and advanced rapidly. By April 14, they had swept 55 miles from the original landings, encountering more resistance as they approached dug-in defenders at Yae-Take. The division's fast campaign won praise, with Brigadier General Oliver P. Smith noting their capability for rapid movement.

Following the successful northern campaign, the Sixth Marine Division was ordered to replace the Army's 27th Infantry Division on the western flank. They advanced south, where they were tasked with taking the heavily fortified Shuri Line, including the Sugar Loaf Complex. After a week of intense fighting and heavy mortar and artillery fire from the Japanese, Sugar Loaf Hill was taken.

The Sixth Marine Division continued its advance through Naha and the Oroku peninsula, engaging in more fierce fighting, and contributed significantly to the overall success of the Okinawa campaign, which ended on June 21, 1945. Their efforts resulted in over 23,839 enemy soldiers killed or captured, with a significant cost in casualties, including 576 in one single day of intense fighting.

The 6th Marine Division's extraordinary heroism earned them a Presidential Unit Citation from Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal. They also had two Seabee Battalions, the 53rd and 58th NCB, attached to them during the war.

In July 1945, the 6th Marine Division was withdrawn to Guam to prepare for Operation Coronet, the planned invasion of Honshū, Japan. After Japan's surrender, the division was sent to Tsingtao, China on October 11, 1945. There they accepted the surrender of local Japanese forces and oversaw their repatriation to Japan, maintaining order and preventing communist forces from advancing on the city.

Eventually, the 6th Marine Division was disbanded on April 1, 1946, leaving behind a significant legacy for its role in key battles of World War II. Its time in Tsingtao also marked an important chapter in post-war China, where the Sixth Marine Division played a vital role in maintaining stability and protecting minority groups.

• 4th Marine Regiment
• 22nd Marine Regiment
• 29th Marine Regiment