6th Armored Division
86th Cavalry Recon Squadron M

The division was activated on 15 February 1942 at Fort Knox. It moved to Camp Chaffee on 15 March 1942 to make way for other Armor units, and then completed its assembly and unit training.

The division then participated in the VIII Corps Louisiana Maneuvers from 25 August 1942, and then returned to Camp Chaffee on 21 September 1942. 6th AD then moved to Camp Young at the Desert Training Center on 10 October 1942, and participated in the #1 California Maneuvers. The 6th AD then moved to Camp Cooke to consolidate the lessons learned. 6th AD then staged at Camp Shanks on 3 February 1944, and departed the New York Port of Embarkation on 11 February 1944, and arrived in England on 23 February 1944.

After continuing its training in England, 6th AD landed on Utah Beach in Normandy on 19 July 1944 as a follow-on unit, and went on the offensive as separate combat commands in the Cotentin Peninsula in support of the Normandy Campaign.

At the end of the Normandy Campaign, 6th AD assembled at Le Mesnil on 25 July 1944. 6th AD then passed through 8th Infantry Division to clear the heights near Le Bingard on 27 July 1944, and Combat Command A secured a bridgehead across the Sienne River near Pont de la Roque on 29 July 1944, and overran Granville on 31 July 1944. 6th AD then returned to Avranches, where it relieved 4th AD and secured the area bridges.

William C Murray