I read in some manual that combat was an adopted anagram, or term by the military meaning "combined battle tactics" as in combining armor and infantry. It was from the 50's, one of those with the "sarge's" cartoon head yelling stuff at you.
Now that ya'll questioned it, I looked it up. I was wrong, seems I was dooped by US propaganda. Go figure.
So scratch what I said, I can walk to the shootin.