stealthytyler Posted August 27, 2020 Share #1 Posted August 27, 2020 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stealthytyler Posted August 27, 2020 Author Share #2 Posted August 27, 2020 IR is needed to see the writing on the sweatband. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stealthytyler Posted August 27, 2020 Author Share #3 Posted August 27, 2020 1st ESB soldier's name on inside of shell with reference to the possible name match in the 229th Port Company Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stealthytyler Posted August 27, 2020 Author Share #4 Posted August 27, 2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stealthytyler Posted August 27, 2020 Author Share #5 Posted August 27, 2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stealthytyler Posted August 27, 2020 Author Share #6 Posted August 27, 2020 Period photos of these helmets in use on Utah Beach Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iron bender Posted August 27, 2020 Share #7 Posted August 27, 2020 Really nice rig with excellent research. Thanks for sharing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmar836 Posted August 27, 2020 Share #8 Posted August 27, 2020 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stealthytyler Posted August 27, 2020 Author Share #9 Posted August 27, 2020 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cap Camouflage Pattern I Posted August 27, 2020 Share #10 Posted August 27, 2020 Astounding! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntssurplus Posted August 28, 2020 Share #11 Posted August 28, 2020 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmd62 Posted August 28, 2020 Share #12 Posted August 28, 2020 Amazing helmet and background info, thanks!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArchangelDM Posted August 28, 2020 Share #13 Posted August 28, 2020 Wow 😯 congrats Tyler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattS Posted August 28, 2020 Share #14 Posted August 28, 2020 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stealthytyler Posted August 28, 2020 Author Share #15 Posted August 28, 2020 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cap Camouflage Pattern I Posted August 28, 2020 Share #16 Posted August 28, 2020 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattS Posted August 28, 2020 Share #17 Posted August 28, 2020 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stealthytyler Posted August 28, 2020 Author Share #18 Posted August 28, 2020 490th Port Bn on Utah Beach. Photo is dated 6 June 1944. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArchangelDM Posted August 28, 2020 Share #19 Posted August 28, 2020 18 minutes ago, stealthytyler said: 490th Port Bn on Utah Beach. Photo is dated 6 June 1944. those pictures speak volumes ! Phenomenal really brings the helmet alive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M24 Chaffee Posted August 29, 2020 Share #20 Posted August 29, 2020 Great helmet with great character and research! Frank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntssurplus Posted August 29, 2020 Share #21 Posted August 29, 2020 Are the guys in the front of the 490th Port Battalion Photos wearing Class A 4 pocket wool coats? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgtdorango Posted August 29, 2020 Share #22 Posted August 29, 2020 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stealthytyler Posted August 29, 2020 Author Share #23 Posted August 29, 2020 They are German prisoners Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stealthytyler Posted August 29, 2020 Author Share #24 Posted August 29, 2020 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stealthytyler Posted August 31, 2020 Author Share #25 Posted August 31, 2020 360 spin of the shell and liner 1esb.mp4 81ncb.mp4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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