6th Marine Regiment (United States)
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| 6th Marine Regiment | |
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 6th Marines Insignia |
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| Active | July 11, 1917 - August 13, 1919 September 15, 1921 - March 15, 1925 March 26, 1927 - March 21, 1929 September 1, 1934 - October 1, 1947 October 17, 1947 - October 1, 1949 October 17, 1949 - present |
| Country | United States |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Branch | United States Marine Corps |
| Type | Infantry Regiment |
| Role | Locate, close with and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver or repel the enemy's assault with fire and close combat. |
| Part of | 2nd Marine Division 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force |
| Garrison/HQ | Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune |
| Nickname | 6th Marines |
| Motto | Keep Moving |
| Engagements | World War I *Battle of Belleau Wood World War II *Battle of Guadalcanal *Battle of Tarawa *Battle of Saipan *Battle of Tinian *Battle of Okinawa Operation Desert Storm Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom |
The 6th Marine Regiment is an infantry regiment of the United States Marine Corps based at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The regiment falls under the 2nd Marine Division and the II Marine Expeditionary Force.
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[edit] Subordinate units
The Regiment comprises three infantry battalions and one headquarters company:
- Headquarters Company 6th Marines (HQ/6)
- 1st Battalion 6th Marines (1/6)
- 2nd Battalion 6th Marines (2/6)
- 3rd Battalion 6th Marines (3/6)
- 2nd Battalion 9th Marines (2/9)
[edit] History
[edit] World War I
The 6th Marine Regiment was first organized at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, on July 11, 1917 under the command of Medal of Honor holder Colonel Albertus W. Catlin.[1] The regiment included three battalions: the 1st (74th, 75th, 76th, and 95th Companies), the 2nd (78th, 79th, 80th, and 96th Companies), and the 3rd (82nd, 83rd, 84th, and 97th Companies). Virtually all of the senior officers and staff non-commissioned officers of the 6th Regiment were long-service professionals while most junior officers and all privates were new joinees. Although the new men were short on experience, they were long on intelligence: Colonel Catlin estimated that 60% of them were college men.[2] Regimental increments arrived in France during late 1917 and early 1918. Upon arrival, the 6th Marine Regiment joined the the 5th Marine Regiment and 6th Machine Gun Battalion to form the 4th Brigade, U.S. 2nd Division (Regular),American Expeditionary Force. The early spring was devoted to training under French tutaledge. The "Marine" Brigade[3] entered the trenches of the Toulon Sector near Verdun in March where it suffered its first combat casualties in March 1918. The 4th Brigade was ordered to shore up crumbing French lines near Chateau-Thierry in late May 1918. The 6th Regiment took up positions southwest of Belleau Wood then was ordered to seize the town of Bouresches and to clear the southern half of Belleau Wood itself on 6 June. Colonel Catlin was severely wounded not long after the first waves went over the top, his replacement was Lieutenant Colonel Harry Lee who would command the regiment for the rest of the war. These attacks were the beginning of a month-long struggle that eventually became a landmark battle for the U.S. Marine Corps. Gunnery Sergeant Fred W. Stockman voluntarily gave up his own gas mask to a platoon mate and was later awarded a pothumous Medal of Honor for that selfless action. In recognition of the "Brilliant courage, vigor, spirit, and tenacity of the Marines," the French Government awarded Marine units at Belleau Wood the Croix de Guerre with Palm and renamed Belleau Wood "Bois de la Brigade de Marine."[4]
Later, for the actions in Soisson and Champagne Sectors, the Marines were again cited for their valor in battle. As a result of these actions, the 6th Marine Regiment was awarded the Fourragère (seen in the unit's logo) one of only two units in the Marine Corps so honored (the other being the above mentioned 5th Marine Regiment). The award of the was a result of being the only regiments in the American Expeditionary Force to receive three Croix de Guerre citations: two in the order of the army and one in the order of the corps — Fourragère and Croix de Guerre with two Palms and Gilt Star. The Fourragere became part of the uniform of the unit, and all members of the organization are authorized to wear the decoration on the left shoulder of the uniform as long as they remain members of the organization.
When the armistice on November 11, 1918, ended active hostilities the 6th Regiment joined the Allied forces in the march from the Meuse River in France into Germany for occupation duty until the treaties formally ending the war were signed in 1919.
The 6th Marine Regiment was deactivated at Quantico on 13 August 1919 after parading through the streets of Washington, D.C.
[edit] Between the World Wars
The 6th Marine Regiment was reactivated in 1921 at Marine Base Quantico where was brigaded with the 5th Regiment. Together, these storied units conducted training and made national headlines by participating in a series of much-heralded summer maneuvers that recreated famous Civil War battles (Wilderness, Gettysburg, Antietam, and New Market)using modern tactics and equipment. Elements of the regiment were called on to reinforce occupation forces in Cuba and the Dominican Republic in 1924. The regiment was once again deactivated in March 1925.
Two years later, civil strife tore through China threatening American lives and property. This danger required an increased military presence to forestall violence and disorder. As a result, a new 6th Regiment was activated at Philadelphia for duty with the 3rd Provisional Brigade in China. No major incidents occurred in 1928 so in 1929 the China Marines were either reassigned or sent home. The colors of the 6th Regiment returned to San Deigo where the unit was officially disolved.[5]
[edit] World War II
When the U.S. entered World War II in December 1941, the 6th Marines was defending Iceland while assigned to the 1st Marine Brigade (Provisional). The Brigade was disbanded on 25 March in New York City. The 6th Marines was reassigned to the 2nd Marine Division at San Diego[6] before sailing for the South Pacific. After a brief stay in New Zealand, the 6th Marines landed at Guadalcanal on January 4, 1943 where it was temporarily reunited with the 2nd and 8th Marines. The 6th Marines, fighting as part of a provisional Army-Marine division after the bulk of the 2nd Marine Division departed, participated in the final American offensive on Guadalcanal advancing from Kokumbona to Cape Esperance and eliminating the last remaining enemy forces. The 6th Marines suffered 223 casualties (53 killed in action/died of wounds, 170 wounded in action) during its six weeks on the "Canal.[7]
The regiment then returned to New Zealand to refit for the upcoming Operation Galvanic, the capture of the Gilbert Islands in the Central Pacific.
This time the target was Tarawa Atoll. The 6th Marines, once again part of the 2nd Marine Division, was the V Amphibious Corps floating reserve. The assault waves stormed ashore on 20 November 1943 but ran into stiff resistance. Casualties were so heavy that the entire division reserve was committed on the first day. The 6th Marines was ordered ashore the following morning. The 1st and 3rd Battalions landed across Betio's Green Beach and were ordered to drive the length of the island, the 2nd Battalion was used as a blocking force on nearby Bairiki Island. Betio was declared secure after 76 bloody hours. The 1st and 3rd Battalions mounted out for a new rest camp in Hawaii, but the 2nd Battalion stayed on to clear the rest of the atoll. The 6th Marines suffered 355 casualties (99 dead, 256 wounded) and received a Presidential Unit Citation for actions at Tarawa.[8]
Later, in June 1944, the regiment took part in the Battle of Saipan and subsequently landed on Tinian where it joined the 2nd Marine Division's drive down the island. In April 1945 elements of the 6th Marines were part of the diversion force atOkinawa but returned to Saipan without going ashore to act as the Tenth Army reserve. Most of the time at Saipan was devoted to preparation for Operation Downfall, the invasion of Japan. The 6th Marines were slated to land on Kyushu in the fall of 1945. Fortuitously, that operation was not needed when Japan surrendered in August. The 6th Marines made an administrative landing in Japan for occupation duty in September 1945 and remained there for almost a year before returning stateside.[9]
[edit] Post-war years
The Regiment returned to the United States and joined the Second Marine Division in 1949. Since that time, it has frequently deployed units to the Mediterranean and Caribbean areas. When trouble broke out in Lebanon in July 1958, the Third Battalion, and Sixth Marines landed within fifteen hours after receipt of orders. Early in the Cuban Missile Crisis, the 2nd Battalion landed at Guantanamo Bay to supplement the defense of the naval base. In 1965, the Regiment landed to protect American lives and property in the Dominican Republic during Operation Powerpack.
In 1983, 2nd Battalion 6th Marines participated in the Multinational Peacekeeping Force in Beirut, Lebanon. December 1989 saw elements of the Sixth Marines in Panama for Operation Just Cause. From September 1990 to April 1991 the regiment was deployed to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm where it conducted the breach of Iraqi lines and captured thousands of prisoners.
[edit] Global War on Terrorism
During the first part of 2004, Headquarters Company 6th Marines deployed to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
In January, 2007, Headquarters Company, 6th Marines, deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, under the operational title Regimental Combat Team 6. The regiment took operational control of three infantry battalions: 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines and 1st Battalion, 24th Marines.
Additional subordinate commands include: 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, Company C, 2nd Tank Battalion, Company B, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, Company C, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion and Battery I, 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines.
In Spring 2007, these units were replaced by 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines.
[edit] Honors and Awards
- Presidential Unit Citation Streamer
- World War II Tarawa - 1943
- Navy Unit Commendation Streamer
- Southwest Asia 1990-1991
- World War I Victory Streamer With One Silver Star
- Army Of Occupation Of Germany streamer
- Yangtze Service Streamer
- Marine Corps Expeditionary Streamer With Three Bronze Stars
- China Service Streamer
- American Defense Service Streamer With One Bronze Star
- European - African - Middle Eastern Campaign Streamer
- Asiatic - Pacific Campaign Streamer With One Silver And One Bronze Star
- World War II Victory Streamer
- Navy Occupation Service Streamer With "Asia" And "Europe"
- National Defense Service Streamer With Two Bronze Stars
- Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamer With Two Bronze stars
- South West Asia Service Streamer With Two Bronze Stars
- French Croix De Guerre With Two Palms And One Gilt star, allowing the members to wear a Croix de Guerre Fourragère.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Notes
This article incorporates text in the public domain from the United States Marine Corps.
- ^ LtGen William K, Jones, A Brief History of the 6th Marines (Washington, DC: Hist&MusDiv, HQMC, 1987), p. 161
- ^ Quote cited in Henry, U.S. Marine in World War I, p. 5.
- ^ This honorific title was a little misleading since the brigade included both marines and soldiers and was technically a U.S. Army unit.
- ^ Edwin N. McClellan, The United States Marine Corps in the First World War (Honolulu: University of Pacific Press, 2002), p. 42
- ^ William D. Parker, A Concise History of the United States Marine Corps, 1775-1969 (Washington, DC: HistDiv, HQMC, 1970), pp. 52 & 55-56.
- ^ Rottman, p. 146.
- ^ Jones, pp. 48-54.
- ^ Jones, pp. 65-78.
- ^ Jones, Hist6thMar, pp. 101-124.
- Bibliography
- Henry, Mark R. (1999). US Marine Corps in World War I 1917-18. New York: Osprey Publishing Company. ISBN 1-85532-852-6.
- Rottman, Gordon L., "U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle: Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War, 1939-1945". Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press. 2002.
- Web
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