6th Marine Division (United States)

6th Marine Division
6th Marine Division insignia
Active7 September 1944 – 1 April 1946
Country United States of America
Branch United States Marine Corps
TypeInfantry
RoleLocate, close with, and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver
Nickname(s)The Striking Sixth[1] or New Breed[2]
EngagementsWorld War II
DecorationsPresidential Unit Citation
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr.

The 6th Marine Division was a United States Marine Corps World War II infantry division formed in September 1944. During the invasion of Okinawa it saw combat at Yae-Take and Sugar Loaf Hill and was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation. The 6th Division had also prepared for the invasion of Japan before the war ended. After the war it served in Tsingtao, China, where the division was disbanded on April 1, 1946, being the only Marine division to be formed and disbanded overseas and never set foot in the United States.[4]

  1. ^ Hallis (2007), p. 15
  2. ^ Sloan (2008), p. 398
  3. ^ The 15th Marines was an artillery regiment.
  4. ^ Sixth Marine Division official website