Helmet, Military
Object number2017.15.1 a,b
Manufacturer
Rau Fastener Company
Date1953-1954
MediumSteel; Metal; Paint; Composite plastic and fabric material, possibly Micarta; Canvas; Leather; Ink
Credit LineGift of Carmen Vacca
DescriptionSteel M-1 military helmet painted dark green on exterior and a medium green on the interior. Metal loop mounted on each temple with chinstrap attachedDimensionsHeight x Width x Depth (a,b together): 9 × 9.375 × 11.063 in. (22.9 × 23.8 × 28.1 cm)Height x Width x Depth (a): 9 × 9.375 × 11.063 in. (22.9 × 23.8 × 28.1 cm)
Height x Width x Depth (b): 6.25 × 8.25 × 10.5 in. (15.9 × 21 × 26.7 cm)
Inscriptions(a)
Interior of helmet at front center has handwritten text in black ink "C. VACCA / 13402424".
(b)
Inside liner dome at proper left is handwritten text in black ink "C. Vacca".
Marks(a)
Chinstrap’s exterior side of the male snap has text “RAU / CO.”
(b)
Suspension system at back center has stamped black text including "HEADBAND, HELMET / BLA100-80-C-271... / ..."
Historical NotesThis M-1 military helmet was worn by Carmen Vacca. Carmen Vacca was an Italian immigrant who served as a Seargent 1st Class in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1949-1953 and from 1955-1964, and a Corporal in the Korean War from 1953-1954. In Korea, he was in charge of the communications for the 58th Ordinance Company and used his skills as an electrician to provide power to the ammoniums camp and neighboring village. During his service, he spent time in Sihung, Korea. Just before he was drafted into the Korean War, Vacca and his family’s American citizenship was questioned, and the U.S. proceeded against the family to try to deport them; their deposition was the day before he shipped out. Vacca’s Reserve unit relocated to West Virginia and he retired from his military service; if he would have stayed, he would have shipped to Vietnam in the late 1960s with his unit.
Previous owner
Carmen Vacca
Related institution
United States Army
Related institution
United States Army Reserve
Related institution
58th Ordinance Company
On View
Not on view
c. 1954
c. 1948