1 hour ago, sgtdorango said:

Love this helmet and great research👍🏻🇺🇸....mike

Mike. Thank you man. It’s my Centerpiece Lid and this guy must have had some real stories. 
Z

Best M1 helmet I have seen. Thank you for sharing! I would guess that he probably received this helmet around when he transferred from the USS Griffin to the USS Petrof Bay. If the helmet itself was produced in mid 1943, it probably reached "the front" sometime in 1944. I would imagine that Pearl Harbor would have a large stock of new equipment and that he was issued this helmet around this time. 

 

This is really just an educated guess but its fun to think about nonetheless! Thanks again for sharing this incredible helmet, a really historically significant M1

3 hours ago, ww2collector1944 said:

Best M1 helmet I have seen. Thank you for sharing! I would guess that he probably received this helmet around when he transferred from the USS Griffin to the USS Petrof Bay. If the helmet itself was produced in mid 1943, it probably reached "the front" sometime in 1944. I would imagine that Pearl Harbor would have a large stock of new equipment and that he was issued this helmet around this time. 

 

This is really just an educated guess but its fun to think about nonetheless! Thanks again for sharing this incredible helmet, a really historically significant M1

Thank you Brother. I appreciate the thoughts (it is fun to think about) and the nice comments. It is the nicest Navy I have seen. A forever keeper. Still want to get his personnel file to add to this mans story.

Z 

On 2/15/2022 at 12:58 PM, ww2collector1944 said:

Best M1 helmet I have seen. Thank you for sharing! I would guess that he probably received this helmet around when he transferred from the USS Griffin to the USS Petrof Bay. If the helmet itself was produced in mid 1943, it probably reached "the front" sometime in 1944. I would imagine that Pearl Harbor would have a large stock of new equipment and that he was issued this helmet around this time. 

 

This is really just an educated guess but its fun to think about nonetheless! Thanks again for sharing this incredible helmet, a really historically significant M1

Bering in mind that helmets were NOT issued to individual ship board Sailors. They were issued to the ship and then distributed to battle stations throughout the ship. Individuals would then find one in good shape, then size it and mark it so they got the same one each time they went to GQ. Being a Carpenters Mate, he was what eventually becomes a Damage Controlman.  Helmets were the “Property” of the DC Department/Divisions, so most likely, he got a new one when they were dropped off at the ship

Man..that's a heck of a cool lid and great job with the research too..

 

Best,

Rob

Geoff at Golden Arrow came back with Mr. Blaney's personnel file so updating the thread!

 

Some other interesting tidbits from his file are:

 

- he petitioned for his Purple Heart for years into the mid 50's having to track down witnesses to his hearing loss obtained while manning battle stations fighting off Kamikazes on the USS Petrof Bay.  "Deafness due to Heavy Firing" it says in the file. He had lost contact with some of the men from the ship but he did end up finding them ib the end.  Both witnesses submitted affidavits on Mr. Blaney's behalf.  He was awarded the Purple Heart on November 16th, 1955 for his actions on October 24th, 1944.  These medals are out there somewhere in a collection. Someone must have broke up the grouping many years ago. I had seen them on a Militaria Site.

 

- He was also awarded

 

Presidential Unit Citation (awarded to the Petrof Bay)

Good Conduct Medal (1940)

American Defense Service Medal w Bronze Letter "A"

American Campaign Medal

Asiatic-Pacific Medal with 3 Bronze Stars

WWII Victory Medal

Philippine Liberation Ribbon w 2 Bronze Stars

 

 

- in 1937, Mr Blaney then brand new to the Navy and 17 years old he was stationed on the West Coast.  He was concerned for his fathers health and perhaps a bit homesick for Baltimore.  He wrote President Roosevelt a personal letter asking to be transferred to the East Coast.  He was reprimanded for it as a letter from an enlisted man to the president as being "Highly Improper" haha.  It just shows me how young these guys were in the USN.  It is also interesting that this was well before WWII.  He had no idea the ride he was in for 1937.

 

Thanks for reading and it was great to dig through Mr. Blaney's file.  It is truly a treat to learn about these things and transport back in time and hear about all the things these people sacrificed and experienced.

 

Z