“The 6th Infantry Division” (TV 214) is an episode of The Big Picture television series that showcases the famous division, also known as the “Sight Seein’ Sixth,” as it fights in New Guinea, the Philippines. The episode also features a bit of propaganda—an “interview” of a U.S. soldier posing as a Chinese communist private. The episode begins with Sgt. James Mansfield’s introduction to the segment (00:50) and Col. William W. Quinn’s promise of a rare interview with the Chinese soldier. The episode then cuts to 1947 Korea where a Korean man prepares food and coffee in a kitchen as men from the famed 6th Infantry Division take a break from the Korean conflict (02:16). One of the men tells the story of the division. The story of the Sight Seein’ Sixth begins in Oahu, where a woman performs a hula dance (04:17); the division prepares to depart for New Guinea. In 1944 New Guinea, the men of the 6th train and march along a beach (04:50); this is followed by footage of the country’s forests. The soldiers make camp in the bush (05:45) before moving to Maffin Bay where they receive supplies (06:12). The troops move through the jungle (06:35), and soon take fire. A firefight with Japanese forces erupts at Lone Tree Hill, considered the bloodiest ten days in New Guinea. The episode shows a dead Japanese soldier (07:16) and men of the 6th evacuating their wounded brothers. The division pushes farther up the hill using guns and flame throwers to clear Japanese positions, and they eventually take Lone Tree Hill. The soldiers wade through the surf to board ships (08:20); they make land in Sansapor (09:03), march along the beach, and capture a number of Japanese soldiers. Engineers use heavy equipment to clear jungle and build on airstrip on Sansapor (09:55). A squadron of B-25 Mitchell bombers fly in formation (10:31), then strike targets in Borneo and the Philippines. LSTs are loaded in preparation for the invasion of the Philippines, and the men of the 6th wait with supplies for the invasion to begin (11:27). Aboard a ship heading for the Philippines, the men of the 6th have a moment to relax (12:15). The calm ends as the American ships fire on Japanese kamikazes (12:46) then fire heavy artillery and rockets at targets on the coastline of the Luzon. The Battle of Luzon (13:50) begins, as soldiers make their way to shore despite Japanese artillery fire. The men of the 6th Infantry move into the hills, assisted by U.S. artillery. The episode then shows Munoz being “softened” by U.S. airstrikes (15:25). Japanese tanks and infantry attack (15:43), and the U.S. fights back with artillery and tanks. The fighting continues into the night (16:19), but by the next day, the Japanese troops flee their positions. U.S. troops climb up and down the island’s hills (17:35), engaging in intense firefights and taking heavy casualties: footage shows a number of wounded soldiers. The 6th Infantry then takes Bonsai Hill (18:30), capturing a number of Japanese soldiers (18:55). The Air Force bombs the terrain (19:13), allowing the troops and tanks to move along “Highway 4.” The episode shows the slow movement as the Americans make their way through jungle. The soldiers attack more Japanese strongholds (20:27), finally forcing the Japanese to surrender (20:42). There is good footage of Japanese POWs (20:56). The episode then cuts back to the kitchen scene in Korea to conclude the story of the Sight Seein’ Sixth. The episode finishes with Quinn’s propaganda interview of the fake Chinese communist private (21:51), who is actually a sergeant of the U.S. Army from Honolulu.

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