This is a very nice example of a U.S. M1917 "Doughboy" helmet with original liner, and broken chinstrap. It also features a great original period textured OD Green paint on the top side, and is painted on the side with a 78th Infantry Division insignia – a red half circle with white lightning bolt.

The shell is marked with a stamping on the underside of the rim that reads 7A/89. The solid rivets and heat lot number indicate that this helmet shell was produced in the United States. The paint is in very good condition both inside and outside the helmet. The liner is also in quite nice shape, with a very good oil cloth liner, and intact felt top pad. It still has most of the original top label. The chin strap is present but broken. The best feature of this helmet is the original 78th Infantry Division insignia painted on the side. The design is a red half circle with white lightning bolt painted in the middle. “Happy” is written in pencil twice under the rim.

The 78th Division of the United States Army was constituted on 5 August 1917 and activated on 23 August 1917, over four months after the American entry into World War I, at Camp Dix, New Jersey. It consisted of four infantry regiments: the 309th, 310th, 311th and 312th; and three artillery Regiments: the 307th, 308th and 309th. In France, during the summer and fall of 1918, it was the "point of the wedge" of the final offensive which knocked out Germany. The 78th was in three major campaigns during World War I – Meuse-Argonne, St. Mihiel, and Lorraine. The division was demobilized on 9 July 1919 at Camp Dix, New Jersey.

This is a great example of an authentic WWI "Doughboy" helmet from the 78th Infantry Division. [jet] [ph:L]

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