 The Sixth Marine Division held its national reunion in Norfolk, Virginia, from 9-14 October 2007. This division was created on Guadalcanal in September 1944. It was composed of three infantry regiments; the 4th Marines, 22nd Marines, and 29th Marines, an artillery regiment, the 15th Marines and subordinate units such as Engineer, Medical, Pioneer, Motor Transport, Tank, Headquarters, and Service battalions.
The reunion began with a memorial and wreath laying for those lost, and fittingly, the memorial was hosted aboard the USS Wisconsin with local Marines as color guard and Navy musicians aboard for Taps.
As part of the reunion, the Marines and many family members visited the Joint Forces Staff College (JFSC), co-sponsored by JFSC's senior Marine, along with 6th MARDIV's John Foley, at JFSC's Okinawa Hall. The Sixth Marine Division lost nearly 1700 Marines and Navy Medical Corpsmen during the Battle for Okinawa.  As hosts to the 6th MARDIV's reunion the JFSC was delighted to have the Division members tour the Ike Skelton Library in "Okinawa Hall," view a weapons display prepared especially for the occasion and meet Marines attached to the 3rd Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team (FAST) Company. The Division concluded their visit to Okinawa Hall with a dedication of the print “Battle for Sugar Loaf Hill” to the Staff College.
A banquet ended the reunion with a traditional Marine Corps twist. A full period uniform pageant from 1775 – 2007 entertained the Marines, sailors and families in attendance. The pageant participants were local Marine volunteers with a deep love for Marine Corps history and for those who have written it.
For more information about the Sixth Marine Division, including their newsletter, and reunion information visit their web site at http://www.sixthmarinedivision.com
One of the Marines killed in action on 12 June 1945 during the Okinawa battle, was Private William V. Niader. William’s brother Frank Niader, has honored his brother by composing this poem, entitled “Purple Heart”. William Niader, who was awarded the Purple Heart, is buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii.
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