6th Marine Division (United States)
The 6th Marine Division was a United States Marine Corps World War II infantry division formed in September 1944. During the invasion of Okinawa it saw combat at Yae-Take and Sugar Loaf Hill and was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation. The 6th Division had also prepared for the invasion of Japan before the war ended. After the war it served in Tsingtao, China, where the division was disbanded on April 1, 1946, being the only Marine division to be formed and disbanded overseas and never set foot in the United States.
The 6th Marine Division wade ashore to support the beachhead on Okinawa, 1 April 1945.
Initial plan of the assault showing the 6th Marine Division's role
Sugar Loaf Hill as seen from the north
A patrol of Marines from the 6th Marine Division searches the ruins of Naha, Okinawa in April 1945.
The Battle of Okinawa , codenamed Operation Iceberg, was a major battle of the Pacific War fought on the island of Okinawa by United States Army and United States Marine Corps forces against the Imperial Japanese Army. The initial invasion of Okinawa on 1 April 1945 was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific Theater of World War II. The Kerama Islands surrounding Okinawa were preemptively captured on 26 March by the 77th Infantry Division. The 82-day battle lasted from 1 April until 22 June 1945. After a long campaign of island hopping, the Allies were planning to use Kadena Air Base on the large island of Okinawa as a base for Operation Downfall, the planned invasion of the Japanese home islands, 340 mi (550 km) away.
1st Marine Regiment during fighting at Wana Ridge during the Battle of Okinawa, May 1945
Tekketsu Kinnōtai child soldiers on Okinawa
The super battleship Yamato explodes after persistent attacks from US aircraft.
American aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill burns after being hit by two kamikaze planes within 30 seconds.