My father served "in armor" in WWII as a radioman. He told me that he had ridden in tanks, but when his unit got to combat, he was in the command halftrack, and that was the vehicle he got his Bronze Star in. He died back when I was 18, but I am "inclined to keep a halftrack" around, somewhere. (I generally avoid armor...not a favorite subject at all.)

As a child of 3 or 4, I clearly recall being given an old Auburn rubber halftrack toy. Later, as a teenager, I picked up a Hotwheels halftrack, which survived multiple moves, ending up in my current place. Some years back, I got an old 1:76 Airfix halftrack, disposed of the Hotwheels number, and proudly built it. There! I finally had a "real" half track.

Except... I then began research. The old Airfix model is a mish-mash of M3 and M5 features, and as the British mainly used them as cargo haulers, not troop carriers, it lacks seating in the rear.

Sigh...

Still, I have grown to love the thing. It is venerable and "nostalgic"...a "toy from my youth" by its era...while still remaining a fitting emblem of my father's service. I call it Chitty-chitty Bang Bang because it has the huge front fenders of an M5 halftrack...almost looks like it could fly.

OT, but you asked...