U.S. 6th Marine Division

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6th Marine Division
6th Marine Division insignia
Active	September 7, 1944
Country	United States
Branch	USMC
Type	Infantry division
Role	Locate close with and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver
Nickname	The Striking Sixth
Battles/wars	World War II * Battle of Okinawa

The 6th Marine Division of the United States Marine Corps was a short-lived unit created during World War II for the Battle of Okinawa and a planned invasion of the Japanese home islands. The 6th Marine Division was in existence for only 19 months and was the only Marine division to be formed and disbanded overseas, never to see service in the United States.

The 1st Provisional Marine Brigade was formed in May 1944, comprising the new 4th Marines and the 22nd Marines, under the command of BGen Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr.. It fought in the Battle of Guam in July and August.

The division was formed on 7 September 1944 on Guadalcanal, by expanding the brigade. The new 29th Marines was added to the division, and the artillery components of the three regiments were reorganized as the 15th Marines.

After training on Guadalcanal, the division fought in the Battle of Okinawa, landing on 1 April 1945 as part of III Amphibious Corps.

In July, the division was withdrawn to Guam to prepare for Operation Coronet, the invasion of Honshū planned for April, 1946. After the Japanese surrendered in August, the 6th Division was sent to Tsingtao, China to accept the surrender of the Japanese forces in that area—less the 4th Marines, which was detached and sent to Tokyo to participate in the formal surrender there. The division remained in China until it was disbanded in April, 1946.