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D-Day Helmet 1st ESB + 81st NCB Utah Beach


stealthytyler
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stealthytyler

Richard T. Lueken served in HQ Company of the 81st Naval Construction Battalion. He participated in the invasion of Normandy at Utah Beach on June 6, 1944. His battalion worked on the beach for over 4 months before returning home. At some point during the invasion, he lost his shell and replaced it with a 1st Engineer Special Brigade shell. The 1st ESB and 81st NCB worked alongside one another at Utah Beach. The shell is named to a G. COOK. The only match I have been able to make using existing 1st ESB rosters is a George Cook of the 229th Port Company, an all African American unit that landed with the 490th Port Battalion on June 6, 1944 at Utah Beach. They suffered 7 casualties but George Cook is not one of them so I am unsure as to how he lost his 1st ESB shell for Lueken to later use. The liner is named to Lueken in multiple places. 

 

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Pretty cool. So the arc on the front appears to have lines scribed around it. Anyone know how this was done.

 

That first Utah beach shot is awesome.  M41 jackets, tanker jackets, and an M42 jump jacket and trousers all in one shot. Makes one wonder where that para lid went. Likely just thrown into the loft of a barn somewhere in Normandy! (sarcasm intentional)

Dave

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stealthytyler
27 minutes ago, dmar836 said:

Pretty cool. So the arc on the front appears to have lines scribed around it. Anyone know how this was done.

 

That first Utah beach shot is awesome.  M41 jackets, tanker jackets, and an M42 jump jacket and trousers all in one shot. Makes one wonder where that para lid went. Likely just thrown into the loft of a barn somewhere in Normandy! (sarcasm intentional)

Dave

 

I would assume that the soldier used a drawing compass to scratch the arc on the front of the helmet. He then painted between the scratch lines. 

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huntssurplus

Incredible helmet! You think maybe George Cook just lost his helmet and wasn't necessarily a casualty? Looks like the name was barely scratched in the inside of the helmet, it may have been hard to identify among a pile of lost helmets. There were probably hundreds in Normandy. Maybe he lost his and just picked up another one too?

Hunt

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16 hours ago, stealthytyler said:

I would assume that the soldier used a drawing compass to scratch the arc on the front of the helmet. He then painted between the scratch lines. 

 

That makes sense, easiest way to draw a curve on a rounded surface. 

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stealthytyler

I am trying to get more information on George Cook. If I can find his service number, that would be helpful. Only problem is that there are quite a few men with this name listed on Army enlistment records. Since the 229th Port Company was an African American unit, I was able to narrow down my search results and found around 13 matches. 

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Cap Camouflage Pattern I
4 hours ago, MattS said:

 

That makes sense, easiest way to draw a curve on a rounded surface. 

Tie a string to the paintbrush, and hold the end of the string to the center seam. 

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1 minute ago, Cap Camouflage Pattern I said:

Tie a string to the paintbrush, and hold the end of the string to the center seam. 

 

I agree, but that wouldn't account for the etch marks. 

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18 minutes ago, stealthytyler said:

490th Port Bn on Utah Beach. Photo is dated 6 June 1944. 

 

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those pictures speak volumes ! Phenomenal 

 

really brings the helmet alive 

 

 

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1 hour ago, huntssurplus said:

Are the guys in the front of the 490th Port Battalion Photos wearing Class A 4 pocket wool coats?

 

I think those are German prisoners?...great helmet👍🏻....mike

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stealthytyler

If anyone can help me find the service number of George Cook, it would be greatly appreciated! Not sure what is the best approach given the fact we only have his name and unit. Thanks 

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