BILL THE PATCH Posted July 29, 2016 Share #1 Posted July 29, 2016 I shared this helmet in another post with the veteran himself. His name is Nevin Gillmore. My Friend has to sell his house to move closer to his daughters. His eye site is going, plus other health issues. His wife of 60 plus years is with him so that's good. He has lived in the same house that he built after ww2. It's very sad to see this. He's actually going to a assisted living home, which i know is for the best. He deserves it. Well he called me up last night and asked if I could come over, so I did this is what he gave me. I showed it before but here are better pictures of it. I wonder if the german who took the bullet in helmet got hurt.i imagine he had a headache. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILL THE PATCH Posted July 29, 2016 Author Share #2 Posted July 29, 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILL THE PATCH Posted July 29, 2016 Author Share #3 Posted July 29, 2016 This is the way he found it on the beach in North Africa. Bullet hole is real Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Queen Posted July 29, 2016 Share #4 Posted July 29, 2016 Neat tropical M35 but too bad someone "nazified" it. Perhaps done to enhance it as a souvenir or by a kid playing soldier. Either way looks like it was done a long time ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILL THE PATCH Posted July 29, 2016 Author Share #5 Posted July 29, 2016 This label I'm told is his name, I also found name under paint on the inside of helmet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILL THE PATCH Posted July 29, 2016 Author Share #6 Posted July 29, 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILL THE PATCH Posted July 29, 2016 Author Share #7 Posted July 29, 2016 Here is a picture of the vets 50. Cal gun crew, who he proudly trained. Arrow point to vet, he also told me the to Italians on the left of picture jumped in. He said Italians always wanted their picture taken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILL THE PATCH Posted July 29, 2016 Author Share #8 Posted July 29, 2016 Here is the vet himself holding helmet in garage. I'll miss my old friend. He'll be about 4 hrs drive away, so that's not bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILL THE PATCH Posted July 29, 2016 Author Share #9 Posted July 29, 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILL THE PATCH Posted July 29, 2016 Author Share #10 Posted July 29, 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILL THE PATCH Posted July 29, 2016 Author Share #11 Posted July 29, 2016 The vet did the artwork himself when he got home Sent from my XT1031 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kadet Posted July 29, 2016 Share #12 Posted July 29, 2016 Great one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blu1989 Posted July 29, 2016 Share #13 Posted July 29, 2016 That's a great helmet and it's even more special since your friend gave it to you to take care of. I love the artwork he painted on the top of the helmet. It really personalizes the piece. I have a German helmet my great uncle sent home from France during the war but sadly he never made it back to enjoy it stateside. Just like mine I know to you this helmet is absolutely priceless and it's great that your friend had you to help look after him and his wife this late in his life and I bet he has a ton of stories from his time in the service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILL THE PATCH Posted July 29, 2016 Author Share #14 Posted July 29, 2016 Oh know I wasn't a caretaker just a friend, up until last year he was still working in the garage. I would stop by to get signatures for our local Republican party candidates. Got to know him about 15 years ago. He has daughters, granddaughters, and great granddaughters. I'm just a friend who spent time asking questions on his service. And yes he has great stories. Sent from my XT1031 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Costa Posted July 30, 2016 Share #15 Posted July 30, 2016 still a nice lid from a vet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted July 30, 2016 Share #16 Posted July 30, 2016 Very cool M35. Any sign of decals under the tan paint? And what is the writing on the back inside? Any story as to how he came by it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILL THE PATCH Posted July 30, 2016 Author Share #17 Posted July 30, 2016 Yes he found it on the beach at Biizerti Tunisia , he was told by officers watch for booby traps, as he told it to me , he use his shoe laces belt some other straps until he had about 20 feet in lenth his words not mine. Tied the end around the helmet got back and pulled it. Nothing happened. He boxed it up sent it home. He was in the 941st aviation engrs. He also designed a logo for the unit I'll post it soon. Sent from my XT1031 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted July 30, 2016 Share #18 Posted July 30, 2016 I was born in Tunisia. Great story to round out this wonderful helmet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M24 Chaffee Posted July 30, 2016 Share #19 Posted July 30, 2016 Great helmet! Very special to get it from your friend. An amazing display piece with his stories to go with it. Regards, Frank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundance Posted July 30, 2016 Share #20 Posted July 30, 2016 Beautiful helmet. Did the vet say he customized it? Whoever did it did a nice job. Best wishes for him and his wife. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted July 30, 2016 Share #21 Posted July 30, 2016 Love the fact there's artwork on it done by the vet himself TR collectors often get irked about such things, but I think it only enhances the piece's history as a US capture piece. Even when a kid did it 50 years ago (I know that's not the case here), it adds a lot to the history...Jack and John running through the woods emulating their fathers and uncles... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kadet Posted July 30, 2016 Share #22 Posted July 30, 2016 Love the fact there's artwork on it done by the vet himself TR collectors often get irked about such things, but I think it only enhances the piece's history as a US capture piece. Even when a kid did it 50 years ago (I know that's not the case here), it adds a lot to the history...Jack and John running through the woods emulating their fathers and uncles... I also collect German helmets. I wouldn't be irked at all to own this one Its a fantastic piece! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOLO Posted July 31, 2016 Share #23 Posted July 31, 2016 interesting story, I like the personalized art work done by the vet, at least you dont have to wonder how it got there or who did it? like most collectors, you have his personal confirmation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Posted July 31, 2016 Share #24 Posted July 31, 2016 Great helmet Bill and I'm sure a great friend. I had many like that but sadly now they're almost all gone. Ronnie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILL THE PATCH Posted July 31, 2016 Author Share #25 Posted July 31, 2016 Here's the logo he designed for his topographic unit. It's pretty cool to bad he didn't have patches made up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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