This is devastating news….like others said, he was a pillar in the USMC collecting community and got me started collecting China Marine items over 20 years ago. He was my go to man for so many areas and even warned off a friend of mine who was about to drop big bucks for a German Army Airborne helmet a few years ago…..he will be greatly missed. 

Sure it is real and does look theater made.  The 9th Engineer Support BN is a current unit that I believe deployed to both OIF and OEF.  Of course, all USMC patches with the exception of squadron patches are novelty patches and not worn on their actual uniforms.  This one looks like it may have been made to have a phallic impression?  SF - Jeff  

I suspect what you got was his reconstructed service file...the original one was burned up.     Both his SSM & PH will have award cards.  Those are in St Louis as well.  Sometimes the award cards have the citations, most of the time not, but they should have the date of the action.  The 316th FS might have a unit history...I think I recall seeing one.

Nice find.  I have a tin just like this full of caps.  I also see a single pistol cap in your tin which is neat.

Heh, you can buy original Eyemo camera body shells for a $100. Though resin/3D printing would be an easier base to work from.       

Started stretching the fabric over the helmet which is by far the hardest part. Cut up and old faded OD T shirt since it’s made of stretchy material. I’m going to try to glue it slowly in multiple stretched sections so that it conforms better. I’m also fine if there are some folds as I can literally iron the out hopefully. Will also try to shrink it to the liner by soaking it in water and then drying it outside super fast. Do that multiple times and it should conform.

Any ideas what these are?

I also need to ask someone to actually search it up as I don’t have the resources to do it myself. Really hoping this guy was in Desert shield/storm or Somalia.

Thanks all for the comments. The webbing is missing some stuff. I want to find out who the guy actually was so if I could find a picture of him put it together like the picture. Yes a little disappointed all the webbing isn’t there. But I really can’t be complaining with this group. It is an Awsome group.

Here is another interesting item which appears to be experimental. SIGNAL, SMOKE, GROUND XM 169. I do know of a couple other collectors who have these, but really couldn't provide any history regarding their issue and use. There are very similar to the old 35 mm film cans of the time. I'm assuming they came in different colors. These were yellow and dated.6-69. Does anyone have any info regarding these items? Thanks.