Experiences of a WW2 recon soldier in the 85th Cavalry Reconnaissance, 5th Armored Division. My Grandfather Alva L. Grout went from a drafted farm boy from Kalona, IA to a gunner and CW Radio Operator in an M8 Armored Car Team as part of the 85th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squad Mechanized, 5th Armored Division. He spoke freely of his experiences later in his life and our family wrote many notes so the stories would not be forgotten. There are not that many books/memoirs out in the world for an Armored Car Team soldier. You find Infantry and Tank men, but very rarely do we see Armored Car Experiences.