The Sixth Marines was first organized in Quantico, Virginia on 11 July 1917. In June 1918, the Regiment, together with the Fifth Marines and Sixth Machinegun Battalion launched the famous attack against the German Forces entrenched in Belleau Wood. In recognition of the "Brilliant courage, vigor, spirit, and tenacity of the Marines," the French Government awarded them a citation of the Croix de Guerre with Palms. Late, for heroic action in the Soisson and Champagne Sectors, the Marines were twice cited for their valor in battle. As a result of these actions, the Sixth Marine Regiment was awarded the Fourragere. With the signing of the armistice ending World War I in November 1918, the Sixth Marines continued to serve as part of the Occupational Forces in Germany. During the 1920's, the Sixth Marines served on expeditionary duties in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and China. When the U.S. entered World War II in December 1941, the Regiment was deployed to Iceland. On 4 January 1943, it landed on Gaudalcanal. In November 1943, the Regiment received the Presidential Unit Citation for its actions during the invasion of Tarawa. Later, in June 1944, the Regiment landed in the assault on Saipan and subsequently participated in heavy fighting on Tinian and Okinawa.

History Of the Indian Head Patch

During World War 1 the Fifth and Sixth Marines fighting in France as the Forth Marine Brigade of the Army Second Division were forced to wear Army uniforms. The Marines had only the eagle, globe, and anchor on their soft covers to distinguish themselves from their Army brothers in arms. As this did not sit well with the Marines, a patch was designed to distinguish them from their counterparts. A black shield with one five-pointed star and an Indian head with full war bonnet was selected. It is said the black was for mourning and respect for their casualties, the shield for defense, the star for the Second Division Commander, Brigadier General John A. Lejeune, and the Indian for General Lejeune’s nickname “Old Indian.” Anther source says the patch was derived from an U.S. coin in circulation at that time. General Lejeune himself gave a somewhat different history as to the origin of the patch in his 1930 biography “The Reminiscences of a Marine.” He states; “There was no inferiority complex about the Second Division. We knew that we were second to none, but also that we were better than any! So we adopted the star and Indian head as the Division Insignia, the Indian head representing it’s fighting ability, and the star it’s spirit or esprit de corps. It was, I think, the first division of the A. E. F. (American Expeditionary Force) to wear insignia.” “We carried the idea out, too, to its logical conclusion by providing a different background for the regiment, each battalion, and each separate detachment.” The Sixth Marine Regiment used the same design in a diamond shape instead of a shield. The color of the background on which the star was placed shows the battalion: black, Headquarters, green, Supply, purple, Machine Gun Company, red, First Battalion, yellow, Second Battalion, and blue, Third Battalion. The original Indian head patch design with shield and black background is still worn by the famed U.S. Army Second Division.

History Of The Fourragere

The Fourragere is a combat decoration instituted by Napoleon for units that distinguished themselves in battle.  In 1918, Marines of the 5th and 6th Regiments, by their deeds of valor, inscribed the names of momentous and brilliant battles on the pages of Marine Corps History. They have the single honor of being the only two Regiments in the A.E.F. to receive three citations, two in the Order of the Army and one in the Orders of the Corps. The Fourragere and the Croix de Guerre with two palms and one Gilt Star. The first award of the Croix de Guerre came after the Battle of Belleau Wood. The second award of the Croix de Guerre followed shortly after the Battle of Soissons. The final award came after the Battle of Champagne, which opened the western approaches to the Argonne.  Just as individuals are decorated for courageous conduct in battle, so are the colors of an organization decorated to commemorate the deeds of the unit as a whole. American units so decorate are authorized by our government to place on their colors a streamer, one for each award.  A unit twice cited with the French Croix de Guerre with Palm is entitled to a braided and knotted cord called the Fourragere in the green and red colors of Croix de Guerre. The Fourragere in the green and red colors of Croix de Guerre.  The Fourragere becomes apart of the uniform of the unit so cited, and all members of the organization are authorized to wear the decoration on the left shoulder of the uniform, so as long as they remain a member of that organization. Individuals attached to the organization on at least two occasions on which it was cited in Orders of the French Army are entitled to wear the Fourragere at all times, regardless of whether or not they are serving in the unit decorated.