This just arrived in the mail today.
Nothing fancy. Basically a blue over painted M1917A1 Kelly helmet. This is an early production example I think given the low heat lot number of 216 (I have read they go from #1 to #1917. It is marked ZD with Z being the steel supplier and D being the helmet manufacturer.
I purchased this helmet from a well respected fellow collector. He purchased the helmet directly from the widow of the vet who lived in Canada of all places. The helmet belonged to her second husband. The Vet ended the war in Germany in the post war military district government and then had a career in the US diplomatic corp.
But not all is what it seems......... as this helmet was worn on Dec 7th, 1941 at Pearl Harbor. A true piece of history.
The helmet is well marked. First with an awl or dull pencil leaving deep gouge marks. Later (Post war most likely but prior to Hawaii becoming a US State in 1959 as it says "T.H." meaning Territory of Hawaii), the vet re-inscribed the helmet will some type of felt tip pen. The liner at one point was taken out (breaking a rivet and losing the original top screw and nut) and similar information was painted in white.
As you can see the vet was Charles Morgan, and on this "Day of Infamy" he was stationed at Fort Ruger, Battery Harlowe. Fort Ruger was a coastal defense battery on the Diamond Head Crater in Oahu, Hawaii. Battery Harlow consisted of eight 12 inch mortars
Only a few photos. It was late and no daylight left.
Needless to say, I am very happy to be the caretaker of this piece of history.
Enjoy!
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