early riveted P41 lower pack - with strange marking

[Blackhawk]

Hi,

 

I got this early war P41 lower pack.

As I opened the flap I saw this strange marking " 51 canteen cover" or "5L canteen cover".

 

Do you have any idea?

Maybe a dealer storing 51 covers in there? A field storage of 51 covers in the field? 😁

 

Best regards,

Lukas

[JerryTheGerman]

Can’t quite make out the name. If we could ID it then it would probably make sense why it was used. Possibly a transport unit?

[Blacksmith]

That would have belonged to Adam Paul Mesarosh from Michigan.  They spelled his name wrong on the laundry stamp.  The stencil is correct.  Looks like they even had to take two cracks at his surname on his draft registration card.

 

 

[JerryTheGerman]

Any division or battalion?

[Blacksmith]

He didn’t enlist until post-WWII (Oct ‘46).  It’s odd, as there is an Andrew P., not an Adam P. in the Muster Rolls.

 

But the headstone matching the draft card - by birthdate - is certainly Adam.  Hmmm…. More to sort out there…. Maybe went by both?

 

As it is, Andrew P. Mesarosh was in HQ BN, 2nd MARDIV in January of 1947.

 

He continues to show on Muster Rolls - in several units - until 1952.

 

 

[Blackhawk]

Thanks!

 

Yes, the correct name is "Mesarosh".

 

I also found an "Andrew P. Mesarosh" but he was enlisted after the war.

 

Best regards,

Lukas

[JerryTheGerman]

Would it make sense if he was HQ to have a canteen bag? Who knows he might have taken his company’s canteens?