What is the width of the bail attachment on the helmet? After that does the heat lot match the other heat lot numbers of known D bails? What about detailed pics of the chin straps?

Thanks for showing this great comprehensive collection! My wife just came across one with a blue stripe that says “UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS” and we were trying to date it. Semper Fi from an old Marine!

The backing is really fragile and someday, not today, I may get brave enough to remove it and see if anything is written on the back of the photo. I also find it rather strange that with all the business ads on the back there are absolutely no addresses. I did find a date of Oct. 21, 1919 on one of papers. I also found an ad for the Fulton Opera House. I googled it and there is an opera house by that name located in Lancaster, PA. It opened in 1852 and it us still in business. It is also a US National Historic Landmark. This makes sense because I found the photo in PA and I believe that it was actually  in Lancaster County but not positive. I appreciate the comments.  Thanks! 

That is USMC Gen. "Howling Mad" Smith. Pacific theater, Saipan maybe.

Unfortunately I believe you are correct. There is plenty of information on visit Maryland type sites. I opened one site that was titled Fort Meade Museum. The only information was that the museum reopens May 2025. There was also one photo, see below. I am also somewhat familiar with Fort Meade and I even visited a few times, last time was when my oldest son took the Oath of Enlistment into the USAF.  With that said I went back and looked at the photo and thought to myself that there aren’t any mountains in the middle of Fort Meade that I am aware of or even for that matter there are not any mountains in that part of Maryland. With all that said I took a much closer look at the photo and it was taken by a photographer that was at one time located in Sturgis, SD. So what I believed to be a site for the museum at Fort Meade in MD is actually a site for the Ole Fort Meade Museum that I believe was a cavalry post located somewhere in South Dakota during the Indian Wars. I attempted to open the links for Fort Meade MD museum at the MD sites and to no surprise none of them were active, the phone numbers were  also disconnected. Not a very good sign that museum is currently open and I am slightly disappointed.  Anyways,  I apologize for my long windedness and I also appreciate the information.   Thanks! 

Agree with Robin.  Not USGI but a private purchase item.  While generally similar to the M1916 holster it differs in a number of details that distinguish the USGI holsters.   Charlie

https://www.ebay.com/itm/267239778754   Whaddayathink?  If you knew what to look for, you'd know.   Ends in a bit over an hour.   If it's a Tiff, its a good price.    And if so,  it's a great opportunity to pick up a Tiffany specimen struck from the original dies at a fraction of what an original issue named Tiffany Dewey would cost.    BTW, I know not the seller nor have any financial stake in the auction outcome.  But it's fun to watch the last few seconds on medal auctions like this one.   Just a bit like when Sovereignty  just beat Journalism at the Derby, as should always happen at the end.     159 views in the last 24 hours will it sizzle at the end or fizzle?    

An interesting combo wonder if there are any numbers on how many Soldier Medal/Airman's Medal recipients are out there if any?   The decorations alongside single campaign only isn't unheard of I'd say for mini worn groups, I have another, possibly recipient going for a simpler look wearing only the most meaningful awards on their mess dress.

Evaporust will remove bluing. 

. looking at photos,   whether you are looking at uniform and equipment photos or Jeep photos, sometimes you have to see beyond when a Jeep is a Jeep, is a Jeep. and see what else can be seen or is happening in the photo.    Hi Graham, a USMC photo for you, how old does the guy in the back of the Jeep look, he looks older than the regulation limits for a serviceman.   Anyway here's a small detail, when restorers replace a rotted out panel on a Jeep windscreen so many of them miss adding this small hole on the left and right of the panel, note the arrow pointing to the hole.        Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, May 08 2O25.  ( COMMEMORATING VICTORY IN EUROPE DAY )   ….