M1917A1 Lost Battalion (?)

[feldgrau33]

Finally after a long time, my M1917A1 helmet finally arrived! I got it from a seller in East Java. To be honest i had to sell my 1942 dated British BMB Mark II helmet to get this.







As you can see, like other helmet condition in Indonesia, majority of them is not in complete form. Luckily there's still some remains of the liner. And there's burnt marks in some places? The bails is shut tight. Curiously the nut is British style.







The heat stamp is McCord 20C. Anyone know when this helmet was made?


Also there's some multi layered paint in here. Original (?), orange and dark green. Maybe this helmet was used by the TNI and the fire department after the war?




But the most interesting part in here is, there's an initials on the helmet inner brim. DGO or DSO?





Curiously when i checked the 2nd Battalion 131st Field Artillery Regiment roster (the only American unit left behind in Java), there's one man who has the same initials. Pvt Daniel G. Ochoa from the Service Battery.
Along with his compatriot, he's captured in West Java by the Japanese when the Dutch surrendered in March 1942. Luckily he survived the ordeal when he's sent to the Death Railway in Thailand. He passed away in 2004.
Too bad there's no additional evidence regarding Ochoa in here. If it's true, this thing is a holy grail in WW2 militaria collecting in here. Since i also plan to publish the unit book, this helmet has become one of my favorite along with the Braat made stahlhelm.
Even if this is not a Lost Battalion helmet, i still like it because early war made American militaria in here is among the rare one. And it's becoming one of my main target.

With my late war McCord M1 heat stamp 1235F.


With the Braat Stahlhelm.

Hope you enjoy it.
PS: Pardon for some of the photos in here, for some reason i can't flip it in here.

[Kohima]

Very nice.. and interesting. The initials certainly seem to support the connection.
I’m curious about the Braat helmet. Have you already posted it? (I’ll have a search, just in case).
Nice find and well done for finding such an item in your homeland!
Rob

P.S.:I found the Braat Stahlhelm post.. Very interesting!

[feldgrau33]

I think i'm not yet posted the Braat made stahlhelm, i only posted the M35 model. I guess it's time for me to show it, i'll post it soon in the incoming week.

Thank you. I hope i can find genuine Lost Battalion helmet next time. Their story in Java is really fascinating.