Chaplains Helmets, The Spiritual Leaders Covering

[Chap15]

Thanks to Marty who encouraged me to take a look inside. It took me a while, lids are not my expertise. I was looking on the liner. Then I took it outside and there it was. On the suspension.

"Spencer" is the name. I confirmed additional paperwork I have and with Marty's find a grave and birthday certificate, Spencer was white. The Army publication mentioned earlier was wrong. There were two African Americans and one white chaplain in the 24th.

Photo image was enhanced to show the show the name.

[Chap15]

Spencer's helmet today.

[644td]

Great picture Bob. Im glad you looked.

 

Marty

[Bugme]

So you inadvertantly got a shot of him wearing it without realizing it was the helmet you had in hand? I thought the photo looked close to your lid when I saw it. This is an incredible find and the cool factor just soared with the ID!

[USMC-RECON0321]

That is amazing to say the least! History to an item brought back to life. Love these stories!

 

Troy

[644td]

A Vietnam era or post war Navy Chaplains helmet made by RJ Stampings.

[Ronnie]

Here's one of Chaplain George B. Wood, 82nd Airborne, 505th PIR, wearing his lid.

. Scott I met Chappy Wood at Ft Bragg in 1995. Got my picture made with him.

Ronnie

[644td]

The cover is not original to the helmet but the cover is name to Navy Chaplain Lt. Michael E. Lavelle. Chaplain Lavelle was assigned to MAG-16 as chaplain to the Marines.

thank you Mike for the cover.

[644td]

On 4/1/2019 at 6:45 PM, Chap15 said:

 

I found a picture of a chaplain from the Korean War wearing a helmet just like this.

The image is a screen shot from The Big Picture: Army Chaplains.

 

Found another photo for Bob

[Nickman983]

Here's my one Chaplain helmet so far. I believe a post vietnam/national guard example

 

 

I also found this picture/caption while doing some unrelated research and wanted to share it here. It's not the "neatest" way of marking a helmet but I guess it does a good job of letting everyone know where the Chaplain is!

 

Picture is from the AP and was posted in several local newspapers at the time, this particular one is clipped from the Akron Beacon on 8/14/1979

[644td]

US Navy Pith worn by Army Captain Chaplain William S. Ackerman with the 309th General Hospital. 
  He was on Tinian Island when the Enola Gay left to bomb Japan. 

[patches]

Captain Reverend Fredrick A. McDonald

https://alwmcsf.org/fred-mcdonald/

[Nickman983]

Chaplain Major Allan Sanders of the 121st Infantry Regiment, 48th Infantry Division has a talk with Sgt. Sidney J Harden during summer maneuvers. Article is from July 15th 1953

 

[Salvage Sailor]

USS Philadelphia CL-41 providing gunfire support during Operation Torch off of Safi Morocco - November 8, 1942

LIFE Magazine Archives - Eliot Elisofon Photographer