Tarawa Navy helmet with full provenance - possible SNLF

[ArchangelDM]

LT REUBEN HANNA MEISEL of the USNR during WW2 was an officer assigned to bringing much needed supplies to the marines who where fighting on Tarawa and the Gilbert islands during the pacific war. 
 

The Pastores was the vessel assigned for this job and LT MEISEL was on it when it docked at Tarawa ! 
God only knows what he saw arriving on that island ! But I’m guessing carnage would be putting it lightly. 

USS Pastores (AF-16) was a Pastores class store ship acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War I and re-acquired during World War II. Pastores served as a stores ship, responsible for delivering supplies to military personnel in combat and non-combat areas. She served in both World War I and II, and was awarded one battle star during World War II.

The helmet is a navy helmet with early brass insignia, the inside is leather with its chin ties firmly attached although Be it blood splattered In places. The leather is soft and supple still, this helmet was really well looked after by him. 

 

The helmet turned up in a antiques store in the 90s I'm told for the princely sum Of $50 if I remember correctly. 

 

Inside the liner MEISEL has written 

 

“Japanese helmet from Tarawa invasion” 

 

Then on another pad he has signed his signature ! 
I started to look him up and he was at Tarawa on the Pastores, whether he earned this in combat or it was traded for an extra can of peaches or pack of cigarettes we will never know, but this helmet was taken in the battle on Tarawa. Only 1 officer and 16 enlisted men survived the meat grinder. 
 

What’s interesting is that the 7th Sasebo special naval landing force was given orders to fight on Tarawa and wiped out so it’s extremely possible this helmet belonged to one of them. 
I can’t read the Kanji inside but there is a lot. 

 

Golden arrow are currently getting me his full file so will update when it arrives.

enjoy the pics 

 

 

[USCapturephotos]

Wow what a bring back!

[Ivydiv]

That is the greatest helmet I have ever seen. It really has it all. The cover and net are beautiful. Congrats. Dave

[whitecap]

Dean,

 

Another stunner. Looking forward to the update.

 

Rich

[TLeo]

That is one heck of a bring back!

[M24 Chaffee]

That’s a really exciting piece of history!

 

Frank

[Dave T]

Thats a great IJN helmet!. Thanks for posting it!!

[MCDUFF]

Another rare lid Dean, wow!! Thumbs up!!

[sundance]

Those Japanese helmets are few and far between and that's a beauty. Congrats.

[Timberwolf]

Absolutely killer lid! How did you find this one?

[ArchangelDM]

17 hours ago, Timberwolf said:

Absolutely killer lid! How did you find this one?

Thanks Timberwolf
 

I bought it from a collector a few years back who needed the cash, it wasn’t cheap then. I would have no clue what something like this would bring now ? 
I don’t think I’ve ever seen or heard of a Tarawa navy lid with solid provenance like this one ever. 
Is there any Tarawa specific collectors on the forum, if so please pm me 

 

yours

Dean 

[Tom Kibler]

What a stunning helmet! Excellent provenance, and I am glad it fell into the hands of a collector like you. Well done and good job.

[Smokeshow]

Very nice helmet! Not to sidetrack your thread but this one my grandfather brought back from Okinawa. It’s named on the inside in Kanji. I will post more in a separate thread once I get more of the grouping items together.This one is an IJA helmet and you are right, there isn’t a ton of them out there.

[Martygraw]

Very nice helmet.