The board of officers, representing all units of the division, which adopted the patch selected the word Orient for two reasons: First, because China was the home of the old Fourth Marine Regiment, lost in the early days of the war on Bataan. The Raider Battalions were the units used to reactivate the Fourth Marines. The second reason advanced by the board was, that it was their belief that in its final stages, the war against Japan would have to be fought in the Orient. It is significant that the division took part in the last campaign, which was fought on Okinawa, and, as predicted, in the Orient.

The crusader’s sword was chosen as a symbol of the Sixth Marine Division’s crusade against the tyrannical principles of the axis powers.

In a special order, dated 17 October 1944, General Shepherd brought the insignia into official existence.