What do you think of this USMC ww2 helmet lot ?

[Upham59]

Hi

I have just been in possession of this lot, but I am not sure if it really is original or regrouped.
The items would have been the property of :
William James REED
2nd USMC Div.

The lot consists in :
- A M1 Helmet + liner
- A Canteen
- A mess kit

Mess Kit :
It has the soldier markings in it and seems to have spend some times in a garage... i don't see any date on the mess kit.
The pictures :




Canteen kit :
The Canteen also hase the soldier marking stamped.
Cup dated 1945 and canteen 1918
No markings on the canteen holder.
The pics :




The Helmet :
The Helmet seems to be a McCord.
Front seamed, fixed bailed. The paint color + Cork really seems legit.
OD 3 webbing
Heat Stamped 76D (02/1942 ?)
It has the soldier serial painted (32481) + JTB (twice painted) inside
The pictures :



The liner :
The liner fits perfectly into the body. Inside really dusty.
Mix of green (leather holder) and black (washers) metalic parts. All does not seem to have been replaced as there are an equal amount of rust on various parts.
It has a Westinghouse liner marking + 35D marking next to it.
OD 3
Outside it has in the front a horizontal tape (look really old) and the soldier's info in the back.
The leather chinstrap looks like repro or vietnam (the leather seems new, it has green metal parts and DOT marking)
The pictures :






So what do you think of this lot ?
I think maybe the parts themselves are good ones but the lot has been reunited maybe ? (looks too good to be true, + the leather chinstrap is suspicious).

Is it possible to try to date the liner ?

Thank you !

[ruddersrangers44]

Hi lets try and help you out a little.so here goes,firstly the shell looks repainted?but could be the light?the Liner is last variant made from june 1944 onwards.

The canteen cover i have never seen anything like this before however i'm not the best on these,but the pattern/design/and blackened studs in stead of brass is all a question mark,the mess tin is ww1/however the M1942 variant carried same design(date in on the end of the ladle).

Also the OD chinstraps on shell look repro but again the pictures are not the best,with regards to this lot belonging to one person is not really my field and hopefully other members my be able to assist you more.also the leather chinstrap as you said may be a fake also.

[rra227]

Liner chinstrap buckle is green. Earlier chinstrap.Early fixed bail helmet.Canteen cover looks unlined. Rich A. in Pa.

[Upham59]

Hi !

Thank you for your answer !
Concerning the helmet I think this is the light because the paint and the cork really seems original (I inspected it very closely).

Concerning the canteen cover it seems it is a M1941 USMC canteen cover : Post your WWII USMC canteen covers - CRAIG PICKRALL FIELD & PERSONAL GEAR SECTION - U.S. Militaria Forum . Also, this old mess tin may have been distributed early during ww2

Thanks about the infos on the liner

[reneblacky]

I like your kit there, USMC are typical of being issued new/old stock kit

[Upham59]

Thanks.
I deep dive more and more into USMC kits and it seems you are right !

I forgot but the seller gave me those infos he got / found about the soldier :


Do you have any idea where I can check if those are true infos ?
The only thing I found is that he is indeed into the Musters Roll of the 2nd USMC div between 1941 and 1943. I can not find anything else.

Thanks

[reneblacky]

Sorry Mate I can't help you more here.

[MilitariaOne]

Greetings,

Here's some additional info on your Marine (please, stop referring to him as a Soldier;-)

Name: William Reed
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 22 Sep 1923
Death Date: 30 Nov 1978
SSN: 418220018
Branch 1: M
Enlistment Date 1: 9 Oct 1941
Release Date 1: 17 Jan 1945

His draft registration card filled out after being released from the service. Note the mention of a "scar" on his "right thigh." Though the documentation you have posted mentions his "left thigh." Not a big deal, plenty of mistakes (right versus left) are made, at least a thigh's wound is mentioned in both documents.

Front



Back



And his wounding is verified here in the State's records (see red box).



I can't comment on the validity of his kit you have posted, nor could I determine his specific units' service in the USMC, but I believe the documents you have posted are valid in terms of the info they contain as the data matches to the individual's info I have provided. I've nothing else to share, so I will now gracefully bow out.

V/r Lance

[gel65]

The mess kit actually looks ww1 period to me or possibly older, the canteen cover is fine. Pretty typical for a marine, most likely a Depot made one.