M1 painted inside with two GI’s info- Questions

[carrabassett]

I just bought this helmet and had some questions that I hoped you awesome “helmet guys” out there could answer. So I know it’s a front seam, swivel bail (sp) with a heat stamp I’m pretty sure is 608 so I’m guessing it’s a WW2 production. However, it seems to have been repainted (smoother and lighter green) so probably reissued after WW2? But the big question I had was the use of “US” before the GIs’ service numbers. When was that practice performed? I thought it was always the first initial of your last name followed by the service number (or O for officer)? There’s a lot of painting and ink info inside this helmet which makes it a fun one to research so I was wondering if anyone had any ability to find info on the various GIs as well? Any help to illuminate the history of this helmet would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance. Jim

[elh1311]

FS/SB, heat stamp and sewn chinstraps clearly indicate this to be a WWII helmet. 

 

The serial numbers, starting with "US" mean that this helmet belonged to two (2x) different service members who drafted post-WWII. 

[carrabassett]

Great, thanks for the info!

[Pepper]

The expansion of different prefixes like "US" were started in 1967-68 when the Army realized they would have to draft the numbers they needed in Vietnam and that the current number system was not adequate to handle the volume of men they would need to draft.

[carrabassett]

Very interesting, thanks for the reply. Surprising that the “old” WW2 style chinstrap was still used that late and not replaced. Maybe stateside nation guard or something? It’s obviously a pretty worn and salty helmet! Thanks again.

[Nickman983]

Like the old saying goes, if it ain't broke don't fix it. As long as the chinstraps were intact there wasn't a huge need to replace them.