SGT CLYDE A. LOOMIS 342ND ARMORED FIELD ARTILLERY HELMET SET

[USMC-RECON0321]

Here is an interesting one I purchased direct from the Vets Son

 

 

This helmet set belonged to Sgt Clyde A. Loomis ASN 37382950 Who enlisted in Sept 1942, serving to 1945 and passed away in 2006.
(See information below)

 

Interesting set, early fixed loop helmet shell and OD Green A-washer MSA Liner. Both the liner and shell have his ID information painted in them. But what really caught my attention was the unusual painted markings on both sides of the helmet liner. You will notice the details are not exactly the same and facing different directions. So if a stencil was used it would've been two different stencils and not just flipped over. Has anyone seen this insignia before?

 

Interesting (or confusing I should say) is the back of the Helmet liner has an Officer's leadership stripe done in tape and the front of the liner looks to have a faint set of Captains bars showing. But it does appear the capt bars were rubbed away and the tape leadership bar on the back was removed only showing the residue left behind? I also find it interesting how the liner is in such rough condition but the original leather chinstrap survived and is still attached (But very worn).

 

When the helmet set arrived, the son also scanned and included two pictures of his father in WWII.

 

From what I could find on line so far on NARA, His obituary and from an archived newspaper article attached to a web site called "WWII in Washington County , Missouri" 1945 article, I have the following:

 

Name - Clyde A. Loomis

Date of Birth - July 24th, 1920 (Belgrade MO)

Date of Death, March 22nd, 2006

Enlisted in the Army - Sept. 2nd, 1942 (Jefferson Barracks MO)

Rank at Discharge - Sgt

 

Military History (Listed in his obituary)

 

Served in North Africa and Europe with general Patton in the 3rd Army 1942-1945, receiving the Purple Heart and Bronze Star medal.

 

Military History (Found a web site called "WWII in Washington County , Missouri) 1945 article.

 

"Sgt Clyde A. Loomis, Member of the 342nd Armored Field Artillery Battalion of the 6th Army supporting the U.S. 7th Army Troops which made a daring daylight raid on the German Command Post town Schaffhausen. The Raid was completed in one hour and the American force left with 13 prisoners. Formerly part of the 89th Infantry Division Artillery, the 342nd was designated as an Armored Field Artillery Battalion on Sept 1st, 1943. It sailed for Overseas Duty on Oct 11th, 1944 and landed at Marseilles, France. First Action on Jan. 23rd was in support of a Cavalry Reconnaissance Group."

Thanks Troy

 

[USMC-RECON0321]

[USMC-RECON0321]

[USMC-RECON0321]

[USMC-RECON0321]

You can see his full name and service number painted in Yellow over top of an older laundry number painted in white

 

[USMC-RECON0321]

Here are the 2 scans sent with the helmet.

 

[Screamingeagles101]

That's a pretty awesome helmet ! Nice that you have the history on it.

[Ronny67]

I love this lid.

[Phineaus]

Great helmet, Troy! I've never seen that insignia before. I love the picture. Always adds another level of depth to a lid.

[Jeeper704]

Very cool and interesting helmet.

 

Erwin

[USMC-RECON0321]

Thanks for the comments. I'm hoping to find the same insignia again on something? It's very detailed to be a one time thing I would think.

 

Troy

[Jeeper704]

They might have had it on the sides of their M7s (105 mm howitzers).

 

Erwin

[USMC-RECON0321]

Thought I would update this thread to show the small unit history I finally received for the 342nd and was happy to see the same marking used on the cover. This unit history shows it was printed in Oct 1945 and can't be many out there. The Veteran to this helmet; "Clyde A. Loomis" is also listed inside for receiving a Bronze Star Medal. Reading the history, the 342nd being a late war unit, sure seen plenty of combat and were continually bounced around from unit to unit, battle to battle as mobile artillery support.

 

 

[USMC-RECON0321]

[sgtdorango]

Wow....Thats great that you found a unit history!.....mike

[IKEsaysGO44]

Very cool!

[VenitHora]

Great set!

[Guest Kh21]

Do you have anymore details on the book? 

[T1gertank519]

You might also be interested to know that Pfc Howard B Unruh (12133350) and Sgt Norman E Koehn (39322536) were members of Battery C, 342nd AFA Btn. It's a sad story if you want to look into it

 

CAMDEN, N.J., Sept. 8 -- Howard B. Unruh, 28 years old, a mild, soft-spoken veteran of many armored artillery battles in Italy, France, Austria, Belgium, and Germany, killed twelve persons with a war souvenir Luger pistol in his home bloke in East Camden this morning. He wounded four others."

https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/national/090749nj-shoot.html?module=inline

 

[USMC-RECON0321]

Sad situation, I wonder if my vet Sgt. Loomis knew Howard Unruh? 

[XL8torDeEn]

To: USMC-RECON0321

I am researching what happened at the end of WWII in the villiage, Schleching, where I've lived for the past 35 years.

It seems the 342nd AFA was the first unit to enter the town on 06-May-1945.

Is there information about the movements between 01-May and 10-May?

Thanx for any help!

TC

USASA 17th Field Station '66-'69

[kuzma]

Was there anymore to the book?  I grew up knowing a member of the 342.  I actually have some pictures of him from the war and he is actually included in the book as wounded in action.  His name was Joe kuzma from Wyoming his obituary is pretty detailed and easy to find online (my dad wrote it and was looking over his discharge papers and thought the two bronze stars on his theatre badge meant like the bronze star award) but he absolutely had a purple heart.

[kuzma]

 

[XL8torDeEn]

kuzma: can you name any of the above pictured? I think the rock formation, upper left in the picture, is the Zellerwand, near Schleching!

[GITom1944]

Here is an enlargement of a section of kuzma's photo... Notice the 342 marking on the side of the M7 Priest.

 

Tom