erikthehistorian Posted August 28, 2017 Share #1 Posted August 28, 2017 Here's a shot of the M1 helmet worn by Lt. Col. Hal Moore during (and after) the Ia Drang campaign of 1965 that's currently on display at the National Infantry Museum at Fort Benning. Can the helmet experts tell me more about the interesting aspects of this artifact? I've done background research on the M1 helmet but I suspect there's more to be learned from this group. For example, can I assume that those brownish spots on the cover are mold of some kind? How typical was that sort of discoloration, and is there any significance to the spot pattern? Thanks! Dr. Erik B. Villard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattS Posted August 28, 2017 Share #2 Posted August 28, 2017 I'm going to guess they are rust spots seeping through the cover from the steel shell due to exposure to a lot of rain, but I'll defer to the experts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattS Posted August 28, 2017 Share #3 Posted August 28, 2017 For comparison: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cap Camouflage Pattern I Posted August 28, 2017 Share #4 Posted August 28, 2017 From what I can see (more shots would be great, both to ID more parts for you and just because I was only able to see the front when it was on display. M1 steel helmet, with M1-C paratrooper liner. Elastic Camouflage band, meant to hold the cover in place and hold foliage on the helmet, but more often used by soldiers in Vietnam to hold small items like cigarettes, bug juice, can openers, etc. Leaf pattern helmet cover (often called Mitchell pattern by collectors but I as far as I know no official document calls it that) the cover shows common wear for Vietnam, the brown spots are rust stains, same with around the rim. The rim is torn from being rubbed between the shell and liner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted August 28, 2017 Share #5 Posted August 28, 2017 The para liners and M1C were often worn by the early Air Assault unit and used during the early airmoble concepts and assaults by the early Cav units.As I recall many of the early Cav men were airborne qualified in the 7th,8th,9th CAV. Awesome helmet...if it could only speak of its travels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted August 28, 2017 Share #6 Posted August 28, 2017 I'm going to guess they are rust spots seeping through the cover from the steel shell due to exposure to a lot of rain, but I'll defer to the experts. I agree. Its rust from the exposure to the tropical climate in Viet Nam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iron bender Posted August 28, 2017 Share #7 Posted August 28, 2017 Look at the liner buckles. Late WW2 Westinghouse? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cap Camouflage Pattern I Posted August 28, 2017 Share #8 Posted August 28, 2017 I may have some photos from slightly different angles that I can post when I get home if OP can't access it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted August 28, 2017 Share #9 Posted August 28, 2017 Could be. Would need a photo of inner liner but I wouldn't go to the extreme and remove it or take the cover off. But the cover seems loose and not as formed to the helmet as the in country photo shows so maybe it was removed at some point.? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrei Posted August 28, 2017 Share #10 Posted August 28, 2017 Here is a picture from Paris Match showing a 1st Cavalry LTC that we have not positively IDed as Hal Moore in a older thread. Perhaps the camo pattern of the helmet cover in the picture matches the LTC Hal Moore's helmet displayed at Fort Benning? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erikthehistorian Posted August 28, 2017 Author Share #11 Posted August 28, 2017 Here is a photo of the inside- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stealthytyler Posted August 28, 2017 Share #12 Posted August 28, 2017 The rust spots were present on this cover in Vietnam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stealthytyler Posted August 28, 2017 Share #13 Posted August 28, 2017 By the way, the elastic band seems to not be original unless it was rotated around the lid or flipped over because there is a wear mark in the b/w photo but not the color photo. Also, the liner looks pretty clean to me on the inside. Not sure if this is rare due to Hal being an officer and not wearing it as much as a low level grunt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattS Posted August 28, 2017 Share #14 Posted August 28, 2017 Definitely a match, but it looks like the helmet cover was removed at least once. I don't expect that minutes after the battle, he carefully removed his helmet and placed it in the gentle care of the Infantry Museum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAW Posted August 28, 2017 Share #15 Posted August 28, 2017 Awesome helmet and photo documentation. Thank you for sharing it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stealthytyler Posted August 28, 2017 Share #16 Posted August 28, 2017 Yeah the cover has torn around the rim. Very interesting piece of history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cap Camouflage Pattern I Posted August 28, 2017 Share #17 Posted August 28, 2017 Cover was probably removed to switch the insignia back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TFH Posted August 28, 2017 Share #18 Posted August 28, 2017 Awesome helmet and very interesting discussion, thanks to share. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hambone Posted August 28, 2017 Share #19 Posted August 28, 2017 Very cool to see THE helmet and period pics of it in use. Thanks for posting this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ludwigh1980 Posted August 28, 2017 Share #20 Posted August 28, 2017 Thank you for presenting the photographs. Exhibits what a unquestionable provenanced helmet (cover) at least should look like after being in battle in SVN; in regards to fading, rust spots, rim wear etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted August 28, 2017 Share #21 Posted August 28, 2017 The rust spots were present on this cover in Vietnam. hal moore cover rust spots.jpg As well as the camo pattern Im not thinking sweat band replaced just its got mud on it in the black and white print Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cap Camouflage Pattern I Posted August 28, 2017 Share #22 Posted August 28, 2017 post-467-1208806985.jpg Here is a picture from Paris Match showing a 1st Cavalry LTC that we have not positively IDed as Hal Moore in a older thread. Perhaps the camo pattern of the helmet cover in the picture matches the LTC Hal Moore's helmet displayed at Fort Benning? looks like at least a few of them have darkened color SSI, like discussed in this thread: http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/294494-did-troops-in-vietnam-subdue-colored-patches/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cap Camouflage Pattern I Posted August 28, 2017 Share #23 Posted August 28, 2017 Another one of this helmet, (well, the cover for certain, seems totally possible to me that he only donated part of his helmet, and the rest could've been added to complete it for display) notice no white mark on the band and some more rust spots are visible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kammo-man Posted August 28, 2017 Share #24 Posted August 28, 2017 what a great piece of History. owen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cap Camouflage Pattern I Posted August 28, 2017 Share #25 Posted August 28, 2017 here is Moore wearing a different cover, notice the leaves in the camo are positioned different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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