Tank destroyer helmet first to last

**Tank Destroyer** · 02-09-2014, 06:18 PM

Thought I would share my two tank destroyer helmets. From the start of the war to the end. The first is my m1917 td helmet I've had for the last 7 years. Not knowing for sure but I think it is from the time period of Camp Hood during the early part of the war. There is a photo I have of my grandfather wearing a 1917 at camp hood. The second is a 1944/45 Schlueter that came from the 6th tank destroyer. The helmet belonged to a Private Villar assigned to HQ. It is great having them together. Enjoy. Marty

**Jerry B** · 02-09-2014, 06:23 PM

Very cool and either would be very rare I would think, so to have the pair is very very special.

**Tank Destroyer** · 02-09-2014, 06:29 PM

Jerry thank you for the kind words. I always said if I ever got a TD helmet I would not collect any more US helmets. Well I did not STOP at the first one. We will see if it stops at this one. My wife hopes so. Marty. Grandson of a 644th Td vet

**Jerry B** · 02-09-2014, 06:37 PM

Hi Marty,

if I could find a 53rd Welsh div marked helmet I would consider myself a lucky man, only ever seen two and neither were for sale. If not obvious, my dad served with the 53rd Welsh.

**Tank Destroyer** · 02-09-2014, 06:45 PM

We have to keep the memory alive for future family members that they DO NOT FORGET. May 2014 be the year for the 53rd Welsh fiv helmet. Marty

**Jerry B** · 02-09-2014, 06:49 PM

by tank destroyer

We have to keep the memory alive for future family members that they DO NOT FORGET. May 2014 be the year for the 53rd Welsh fiv helmet. Marty

Thanks mate, I always live in the hope I will find one. I was lucky last year and found a helmet from one of the Welsh regiments that would have made up part of the Welsh div and he might have served in the div, but that is not known. It had no flash, just his name and service number for the Royal Welch Fusiliers, but sadly WWII service records cannot be researched from the number, other than to the regiment.

**Aleksander P** · 02-09-2014, 06:51 PM

Great items! I don't collect Western Allied's militaria, but I really like the badge that they use and I'm glad to see these specimens. The M1917 with that badge must be very rare.

**SteveR** · 02-09-2014, 07:58 PM

The 644th was activated December 15,1941 from a cadre of the 44th Inf. Division.
They entered combat in July 1944. They were equipped with the M 10 vehicle.
They were attached to the 82nd Airborne and the 1,2,8,9,86and 89th Infantry Divisions during the war.
Their commanding officer was Ephraim F Graham.
The unit had 5 major campaign stars.
They destroyed 55 armored vehicles and 1 plane during the war.

I hope this information is of some use.

**Tank Destroyer** · 02-09-2014, 09:18 PM

Right on it with in info. My grandfather received 5 battle stars, along with receiving the bronze star when he and a group of men had to go into a town in Belgium to bring back a recon squad that was trapped behind German lines. He did not talk very much about his service, but I do remember him saying he always hated " soften up a town " because he knew there were children in the towns. Sad part of history. Marty