6th Infantry Division - Sight Seein' Sixth

Activated 10 Oct 1939  •  Entered Combat 14 Jun 1944  •  Days of Combat 306  •  Casualties 2,370

Division Chronicle

The Division moved to Hawaii in July and August 1943 to assume defensive positions on Oahu and for jungle warfare training. 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.

Organization 1944

1st Infantry Regiment

20th Infantry Regiment

63rd Infantry Regiment 

HHB Division Artillery

1st Field Artillery Battalion

51st Field Artillery Battalion

53rd Field Artillery Battalion

80th Field Artillery Battalion

6th Engineer Combat Battalion

6th Medical Battalion 

6th Engineer Combat Battalion

6th Reconnaissance Troop 

Hqs Company, 6th Division

Headquarters, Special Troops

Military Police Platoon, 6th Div.

6th Quartermaster Company

6th Signal Company

706th Ordnance (Lt Maint) Co.