Named M1 Vietnam Helmet

[RasgoneEnig]

Hello Everyone,

This was my first helmet ever, the one who introduced me to the passion on collecting militaria. It was purchased on Vietnam by my grandparents, back when most of this stuff was real and not cheap copies or surplus. As you can see, it's in rough shape: missing chin and neck straps.

The only thing with a name was the helmet band ("SMITH" USMC on the front; "RUSH" on the back), and the helmet cover with a "CHIEF" written in red marker (more distinguishable on the other side of the cover).

But today I decided to take some of the dust off it, when to my surprise I noticed some writing inside the head band. It says "BLACK (?) ROBERT C".

So, taking into account the surname Smith, that would make the name "BLACK (?) ROBERT C. SMITH". I dont have much hope finding it's original owner, since there's a high chance the helmet band was replaced or reused to complete the helmet, but I'm hopeful.

[Tank Destroyer]

Nice setup lid. The helmet is a Ingersoll, the cover is a 77 dated postwar Vietnam cover and the sweatband is dated 74. The elastic bands as well as everything else was reused.

Marty

[RasgoneEnig]

Thanks!

I suspected the cover was a later variant, but I was not sure. Also, is the steel pot period related to the Vietnam era? And what about the elastic band?

Yet again, Many thanks!

[Tank Destroyer]

The helmet is correct for Vietnam. Is there any factory writing on the band?

[MAP]

I don't think there is any correlation between the name on the elastic band and the name inside the helmet.

Nice helmet though. Not bad for your first one!

[Anderson]

A nice "like a Vietnam" example, but the cover is clearly 1977 made so well after Vietnam war period, so unlikely to have been bought there. It is likely to be just a construction of unrelated parts, but nice for display purposes.