Here's a photograph I searched for for a very long time; it depicts a group of American soldiers during the combat action on Grenada in 1983 What is noteworthy is that the soldiers an the left are wearing the venerable M1 helmet, and the soldiers on the right are wearing the new PASGT kevlar helmet. This photo records the moment in time when one helmet was leaving service and the other was entering. This was in interesting time of transition away from the memory of Vietnam...new helmet, new war, new army.
You wore bothe the M1 as well as the new PASGT helmets during your career; how do you compare one to the other in comfort, versatility, practicality, and protection? Which helmet did your prefer?
Yes, I wore both. I much preferred the PASGT (kevlar). It was much more comfortable and though I never had to test it, I felt it provided much more protection...it looked cooler too. There was some negative press at the time comparing its look to WWII German helmets.
Yes I wore both. I much preferred the PAGST (Kevlar). It was much more
comfortable and though I never had to test it, felt it provided much more
protection. It looked cooler too. There was some negative press at the time
comparing its look to WW2 German helmets.
On Grenada, generally speaking, which types units were still wearing the M1 and which
were wearing the new PASGT?
The 82nd Airborne had the PASGT. I believe that everyone
else that I saw outside the division still had the old M1.
What was your experience with surrendering Cuban soldiers? Did you see any of them
wearing the East German-style helmet?
Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) were native Grenada troops and Cuban troops.
I saw the East German style helmets at a supply dump that we captured at
Frequentes.
By the time I saw Cubans and PLA troops, they were already POWs.
Some were still wearing that helmet.
What was the response of the troops to the new helmet? Was there any skepticism?
The guys in the 82nd liked the new helmets.
Unlike the M1 where you could take the helmet
liner out and use the steel pot for washing or carrying water, you couldn't do that
with the Kevlar. The Kevlar was still pretty novel and so it was popular. It felt
more “solid” to me
What was your total period of deployment on Grenada?
The U.S. was at Grenada for
quite awhile but the 82nd was there for about two weeks. We pulled out by the
middle of November 1983. Unlike Viet Nam veterans, were were warmly
welcomed when we arrived back at Fort Bragg. It was pretty touching.
Were you able to bring your helmet home?
I turned my helmet in when I left the Army. I later bought one at an Army surplus store.
Do you have any final thoughts on the helmets or on your experience that you'd like to
share?
I really felt the Kevlar was a good helmet. I was glad when I arrived at Fort
Bragg from my previous assignment in Germany and got the Kevlar. The chin
strap was better designd and the helmet stayed on your head. The M1 had a
tendency to come loose and fall off.
With regard to my experience, at Grenada,
when Americans who were killed were being evacuated back to the States, the
Army did not have the right kind of specialists along to properly care for them.
My colonel gave me that sad job and I took care of these men and sent them on
their final journey home. That was the one thing that I really felt proud to be able
to do for these forgotten men of Operation Urgent Fury.
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The helmet that Col Rosebrock wore was the PASGT airborne version, with the chinstrap retention straps and rubber cushion at the nape. I'll profile this cool helmet at a later date.
All these years later, Jim is still in uniform, as part of the all-volunteer artillery detachment at Antietam National Battlefield.