You guys may have remembered my posting the helmet to your left below with the USS Thorn on front. I had ID'ed it to one of the officers, Bill Young. THere is much more story behind this helmet that I will tell later. However it is great when there exists a strong Vet Association related to our helmets. Since befriending the president of the USS Thorn Association, I have had several vet families donate uniforms to my collection. The latest had another M1 helmet come with it! I was surprised as to the mint condition of the helmet. It belonged to a Lt. Hubbard, who was head officer of the communications on board the destroyer both in its three runs to North Africa and its time in the Pacific theater with recon 19. The president told me that Lt. Hubbard spent most of his time in the tower and wore his helmet very little and only during battle stations. The helmet is nearly mint, along with the liner, except on the top where it has a few dents and the rubbing away of cork. This ship survived three Typhoons, including the famous Halsey's Typhoon! The USS Thorn was given seven battle stars and was present during layte gulf and Iwo Jima. I have received three ID'ed uniforms fro the Thorn as seen below. This is the first time I have obtained an ID'ed helmet that did not cost me any money!

Another.

Lt. Hubbard's M1 and uniform. I will put a photo up later of him wearing the gray hat below with metal insignia.

Minty helmet! To the inside of the shell the is still traces of cardboard. You can also see the stacking marks.

Even the liner chinstrap is like brand new except for some tarnish on the buckle!

Top of helmet

Last one

one more

Well Mike, it just doesn't get any better than that now does it? It appears that you are fast becoming the U.S.S. Thorn Archivist!

Thanks for sharing such a great grouping you managed to get together! It's great when you know the stories of the people who worn them.

Lt. Hubbard in Hat seen in grouping!

Hat now.

LAst

Like the other guys have said, having a grouping from a vessel and knowing the stories behind the items is worth its weight in gold.

 

-gasp-... I never get burned out on checking out minty W.W.II M1s...or ANY W.W.II M1 pots, for that matter :w00t:

Last one

Wonderful helmets. Just a note, the silver pin on the Chief Radiomans uniform is an Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist badge. It did not come out until 1979, and for what it's worth, it goes over the ribbons.

 

Steve Hesson

Mike, you should start a museum. Great finds!

Mike, as always, a very IMPRESSIVE display! The minty helmet is a great reminder that these WWII M1s come in many stages of condition, despite our consistent demand that these helmets should have painted insignias, evidence of rust, and be found in a barn! And for a great price! :thumbsup: Well done!! :thumbsup: jpstout

Thanks everybody. Also sigsaye thanks for the insight on the badge! Cesar, actually I am talking to someone in our county on the possibility of a small museum. I will be requesting that all my friends here send their best pot for showing!! I will go ahead and say a few more things about the gray-painted M1 with the USS Thorn on the front. The President of the Thorn Association was with the ship from day one until she was placed in reserve and later in 1973 when she was taken off the register and destroyed for target practice. He was there with a few others of the Thorn for this occasion and saw her destroyed. He told me that when the ship was "moth Balled" after the end of the war, and placed in reserve, he saw and wes told that the helmets aboard were placed on each man's bunk along with their life jackets! In 1971 he was on the ship as it was taken to another port for decomissioning and destruction. In 1973 the Navy held a de-comissioning ceremony for the original sailors. He said that in 1971 when he went below, the helmets were still there but without the painted USS Thorn. On the day of the Ceremony in 1973, They were told to go and get anything they wanted off the ship before it was destroyed. He says that it was then that the painted USS Thorn was on the helmets for this ceremony. He was with Mr. Young when they went down and got their helmets and life jackets. So the helmet is the original helmet worn by Mr. Young but with the added name of the ship for the ceremony which I think does not detract a bit from the history of the pot! He said that some of the guys even unscrewed their bunks and took them home. Many of the helmets went down with the ship. The other helmet from Mr. Hubbard was taken off the ship when he left it. The President said that Mr. Hubbard was not there for the decomissioning and he said that some of the officers took their helmets off the ship when they left.

 

Cheers,

 

Mike