[Webmaster Note: The following division information is reproduced
from the public domain publication, The Army Almanac: A Book of
Facts Concerning the Army of the United States, U.S. Government Printing Office,
1950. Portions of the information may be out of date. Only minor formatting changes and
typographical corrections have been made.]
World War I
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Activated: November 1917.
Overseas: June 1918.
Major operations: Meuse-Argonne.
Days of combat: 43.
Casualties: Total 386 (KIA - 38; WIA - 348).
Commanders: Col. Charles E. Tayman (26 November 1917),
Brig. Gen. James B. Erwin (29 December 1917),
Maj. Gen. Walter H. Gordon (28 August 1948).
Returned to U.S.: June 1919.
World War II
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Activated: 12 October 1939.
Overseas: 21 July 1943.
Campaigns: Luzon, New Guinea.
Days of combat: 306.
Distinguished Unit Citations: 7.
Awards: MH-2; DSC-10; DSM-3; SS-697; LM-18; DFC-3; SM-94; BSM-3,797; AM-45.
Commanders: Brig. Gen. Clement A. Trott (October 1939-October 1940),
Brig. Gen. Frederick E. Uhl (October-December 1940),
Maj. Gen. Clarence S. Ridley (January 1941-August 1942),
Maj. Gen. Durward S. Wilson (September-October 1942),
Maj. Gen. Franklin C. Sibert (October 1942-August 1944),
Maj. Gen. Edwin D. Patrick (August 1944-March 1945),
Maj. Gen. Charles E. Hurdis (March 1945-April 1946),
Col. George M. Williamson, Jr. (April-June 1946),
Maj. Gen. Albert E. Brown (June-September 1946),
Brig. Gen. John T. Pierce (September-October 1946),
Maj. Gen. Orlando Ward (October 1946-1 January 1949).
Inactivated: 10 January 1949 in Korea.
Combat Chronicle
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The Division moved to Hawaii in July and August 1943 to assume defensive
positions on Oahu, training meanwhile in jungle warfare. It moved to
Milne Bay, New Guinea, 31 January 1944, and trained until early
June 1944. The Division first saw combat in the Toem-Wakde area
of Dutch New Guinea, engaging in active patrolling 14-18 June, after
taking up positions 6-14 June. Moving west of Toem, it fought a
bloody battle with the enemy at Lone Tree Hill, 21-30 June, and
secured the Maffin Bay area by 12 July. After a brief rest, the Division
made an assault landing at Sansapor, 30 July, on the Vogelkop Peninsula. The
6th secured the coast from Cape Waimak to the Mega River and garrisoned the
area until December 1944. The Division landed at Lingayen Gulf, Luzon,
on D-day, 9 January 1945, and pursued the Japanese into
the Cabanatuan Hills, 17-21 January, capturing Munoz, 7 February. It
then drove notrheast to Digalan Bay and Baler Bay, 13 February, isolating
enemy forces in southern Luzon. The 1st Infantry Regiment operated on
Bataan, 14-21 February, cutting the peninsula from Abucay to
Bagac. The Division shifted to the Shimbu Line northeast of
Manila, 24 February, took Mount Mataba, 17 April, Mount
Pacawagan, 29 April, Bolog, 29 June, Lane's Ridge of Mount Santo
Domingo, 10 July, and Kiangan, 12 July. The 6th remained in
the Cagayan Valley and the Cordilleras Mountains until VJ-day, then
moved to occupy Korea. The division occupied the southern half of the
United States zone of occupation until inactivated.
General
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Nicknames: Red Star; formerly called the Sight Seein' Sixth.
Shoulder patch: Six pointed red star.
Publications: The Sixth Infantry Division in World War II, 1939-45; by
the Division Public Relations Section; The Infantry Journal, Washington,
D.C.; 1947. Pictorial Review; by unit members; Albert Love
Enterprises, Atlanta, Ga.; 1945.
See Also:
7th Infantry Division,
24th Infantry Division,
25th Infantry Division,
27th Infantry Division,
31st Infantry Division,
32nd Infantry Division,
33rd Infantry Division,
37th Infantry Division,
38th Infantry Division,
40th Infantry Division,
41st Infantry Division,
43rd Infantry Division,
77th Infantry Division,
81st Infantry Division,
93rd Infantry Division,
96th Infantry Division,
98th Infantry Division,
11th Airborne Division,
1st Cavalry Division,
Americal Division,
Philippine Division
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