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The Other Sullivan Helmet - Korean War M1C Captain's Helmet


anton67
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Many saw the sale of the Lt. helmet that was attributed to Roy Earl Sullivan that went for $3K on ebay.

The seller had two helmets for sale.

The Lt. helmet and a Capt helmet which was an M1C.

The seller said that both were from the same estate and belonged to Mr. Sullivan.

I believe the (as do others) that the Lt. helmet was his worn during WWII when he was with the 143rd.

I believe that the helmet that I post here was his M1C worn during his Korean War service with the 11 Airborne.

 

Here is Mr. Sullivan's obituary:

 

Roy Earl
Sullivan
January 14, 1921-
September 2, 2016
Johnson City, TN- Roy Earl Sullivan, 95, of Johnson City, TN formerly of Columbus, GA died Friday, September 2, 2016, at NHC Johnson City, TN.
Graveside services will be held 2:00 PM Friday, September 9, 2016 in Riverdale Cemetery with Rev. Riley Middleton officiating. The family will receive friends following the services at the cemetery or at the Hilton Garden Inn according to McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory 3874 Gentian Blvd. Columbus, GA 31907.
Mr. Sullivan was born January 14, 1921 in Sumner, GA son of the late Roy and Willie Lemon Sullivan. He retired after 25 years with United Insurance Company of America and was a graduate of Tift County High School and attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. Mr. Sullivan was a U.S. Army Veteran serving in WWIIand the Korean Conflict. He was a member of the 11th Airborne Division Association and loved to watch football and baseball, reading and keeping up with old friends and family history.
Other than his parents, Mr. Sullivan was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Kate Hunter Sullivan.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Alcye Streetman Sullivan; son Roy E. (Buddy) Sullivan, Jr. of Richmond Hill, GA; daughter Karen Sullivan Sams and husband Bob Sams of Johnson City, TN; grandchildren; Stephanie Sams of Pensacola, FL; Patrick Sullivan and wife Shannon Sullivan of Atlanta, GA; Teri Sullivan Fischer and husband Charlie Fischer of Atlanta, GA; Amanda Sullivan Wilson and husband Hugh Wilson of New York, NY; great-grandchildren; Emma Sullivan, Chas Fischer and Kadee Fischer. He is also survived by dear friends, Ann Spencer and Elizabeth Tarver, Columbus, GA.
The family would like to extend thanks to the staff of NHC Station 3 and Caris Hospice for their kindness and care.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Infantry Museum or to the animal shelter of your choice.

 

And a photo.

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I was lucky enough to purchase the Captain M1C helmet from Mr. Sullivan's Korean War service.

 

First I will post the original Ebay listing for the Lt. helmet.

Then I will post the original Ebay listing for the Capt. helmet.

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The purpose of this thread was to show others my helmet.

The other purpose was to link the two together since they were separated during the sale.

That way provenance will not be lost.

 

The liner is an IMP.

The liner chinstrap is an early green hardware.

The liner chinstrap is stuck on the liner as if he wore it under the steel pot.

As an aside, it is nice to have the original net that came with it.

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I will say that the circle around the top of the M1C liner does seem to match the circle wear around the inside of the Lt. helmet.

I am not saying they are improperly matched.

I am just saying that maybe at one time Mr. Sullivan wore the M1C liner with the Lt. helmet.

Although I am told that the way "SULLIVAN" is stenciled across the front of the M1C helmet's liner is typical 11th Airborne.

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Just my spin on it but I would say the liner you have is for the shell.

 

He may have entered the 11th Abn as a 1st Lt. Had a Lt bar on the shell as well.THen promoted to Captain.Added the bar to the shell to show Captain rank and never bothered to update/repaint the liner rank.

 

I posted a Captains helmet from a WW2 doctor and the liner still retained his 1st Lt rank....not uncommon to encounter this.

 

looking at the shell(in hand) is it possible to see where the rank bar(left or right) is more centered on one bar or the other? Then when other bar added(to make Captain) would make the insignia look off center depending on which side 2nd bar was painted?

 

Not picking it apart just offering a different view

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You said "the liner you have is for the shell."

Which shell are you referring to? The Lt. marked shell (other ebay auction) OR the M1C shell with Capt. bars?

 

I do think he entered the 11th AB as a Lt. and was later promoted to Capt.

The Capt. bars on the M1C shell look centered to me so he may have just painted the Capt. bars on at a later date after he was promoted.

The Capt shell was a re-issue as it has another soldier's name pencilled in it.

 

I just find it interesting that the circular marks from the Lt. shell (other ebay auction) are similar to the markings on the SULLIVAN liner which came with the M1C.

I hypothesize that perhaps Mr. Sullivan wore the SULLIVAN liner with both shells at one time or another.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I picked up two of his overseas caps and three of his shirts off of ebay last night.

The name and serial number in the hat and all 3 shirts link it up nicely.

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Mark, great job on pulling all of this information together. The story of Sullivan has gone from two helmets on EBay to telling at least on a small scale his story. I know you will find more information and I look forward to seeing more.

 

Great job,

 

Marty

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