Military Histories

The 5th Armored Division was divided into three distinct Combat Commands. They were referred to as Combat Command "A" (CCA), Combat Command "B" (CCB) and Combat Command Reserve (CCR). Each of the Combat Commands was further divided into task forces.

Combat Command B's largest task force consisted of Headquarters, B and C Companies of the 81st Tank Battalion, plus B and C companies of the 15th Infantry Battalion; its smaller task force consisted of Headquarters and A Companies of the 15th Infantry Battalion, plus A Company of the 81st Tank Battalion.

Colonel Cole was the commander of CCB. The two task forces under his command were Task Force Anderson, the larger of the two under the command of Lt. Col. Anderson and Task Force Wintermute, the smaller of the two under the command of Lt. Col. Wintermute.

Lt. Martin would have been a platoon leader in the larger task force, Anderson, as a member of Co. "C", 15th Armored Infantry Battalion.

Each of the tank battalions was "married" to an infantry battalion. They traveled together and were an organic component of the task forces and combat commands. The infantry in half tracks generally following the tanks when they were on the move. The tanks were used to protect the infantry across the open flats of Europe and the infantry protected the armor once they were into urban fighting.