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Immediately following the Great War it was a common practice, among American soldiers on the long boat ride home, to paint, or have someone else paint, unit insignias on their helmets. Frequently much more elaborate decoration was undertaken.
Last year my friend Paul loaned me his grandfather's doughboy helmet so that I could take some pictures. Paul's ancestor was in an anti-aircraft unit and his helmet nearly speaks for itself.
Enjoy.
One side depicts a daylight scene of combat...
the other side is of an air raid over a city.
Caught in the searchlights.
A burning building.
A tank.
What a remarkable set of memories.
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