U.S. 6th Infantry Division

From Free net encyclopedia

{{Infobox Military Unit |unit_name=U.S. 6th Infantry Division |image=Image:6th Infantry Division.svg |caption=6th ID Shoulder Sleeve insignia |country=USA |allegiance= |type=Division |branch=Regular Army (inactive) |dates=November, 1917 - September 30, 1921; October 12, 1939 - January 10, 1949; April 16, 1986 - July, 1994 |specialization=Light Infantry (1986-1994) |command_structure= |size= |current_commander=N/A |garrison=inactive |ceremonial_chief= |nickname=Red Star |motto= |colors= |march= |mascot= |battles= |notable_commanders= |anniversaries= }}

The 6th Infantry Division was a unit of the United States Army in World War I, World War II, and the last years of the Cold War. Known as "Red Star", and formerly called the "Sight Seein' Sixth".

Contents

[edit]

World War I

Activated: November 1917

  • Segments:
  • Overseas: June 1918
  • Major operations: Meuse-Argonne
  • Days of combat: 43
  • Casualties: Total 386 (KIA-38; WIA-348)
  • Returned to U.S.: June 1919

Deactivated: 30 September 1921 at Camp Grant, Illinois

[edit]

Commanders

COMMANDING OFFICERS:
(26 November 1917 – 1 June 1919)
Col. Charles E. Tayman 26 November 1917 - 28 December 1917
Brig. Gen. James B. Erwin 29 December 1917 - 27 August 1918
Maj. Gen. Walter H. Gordon 28 August 1918 - 1 June 1919


[edit]

World War II

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.
  • Segments:
  • Nickname: "Sightseeing Sixth"

Inactivated: 10 January 1949 in Korea

[edit]

WWII Combat Chronicle

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.

[edit]

Medal of Honor recipients

Medal of Honor recipients for the 6th Infantry Division during WWII:

[edit]

Commanders

COMMANDING OFFICERS:
(October 1939 – January 1949)
Brig. Gen. Clement A. Trott October 1939 - October 1940
Brig. Gen. Frederick E. Uhl October 1940 - December 1940
Maj. Gen. Clarence S. Ridley January 1941 - August 1942
Maj. Gen. Durward S. Wilson September 1942 - 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 1946 - June 1946
Maj. Gen. Albert E. Brown June 1946 - September 1946
Brig. Gen. John T. Pierce September 1946 - October 1946
Maj. Gen. Orlando Ward October 1946 - 1 January 1949


[edit]

Post World War

[edit]

Cold War Era

The 6th Division was reactivated October 4, 1950 at Fort Ord, California. There the division remained throughout the Korean War, training troops and providing personnel for combat, but was never deployed overseas as an entity itself and was again deactivated on April 3, 1956. In the build up during the Vietnam War the division was activated at Fort Campbell, Kentucky in November 1967 budgetary limitations once more ended the 6th Infantry Division's existence less than nine months later on July 25, 1968.

The last incarnation of the division came on April 16, 1986 at Fort Richardson, Alaska when the 172nd Infantry Brigade was redesignated 6th Infantry Division (Light). Over the next seven years the 6th was the U.S. Army’s primary arctic warfare division. The division headquarters was moved from Fort Richardson to Fort Wainwright (near Fairbanks) in 1990 [1]. Commanders during the arctic activation included Maj. Gen. David Bramlett and Maj. Gen. Johnnie H. Corns.[2] .

[edit]

Gulf War

Elements of the 6th ID (L) participated in the Defense of Saudi Arabia (Desert Shield) and Liberation and Defense of Kuwait (Gulf War) operations[3].

[edit]

Deactivation

The division was deactivated for the last time on July 6, 1994.

[edit]

References

  • The Army Almanac: A Book of Facts Concerning the Army of the United States U.S. Government Printing Office, 1950 reproduced at CMH.
  • The Army in Alaska [4].
  • Northern Edge [5].
  • 6th Infantry (The Regulars): Lineage and Honors Information as of 7 May 1997 [6].
[edit]

External links

Retrieved from "http://www.netipedia.com/index.php/U.S._6th_Infantry_Division"