Original Items: Only One Group Available. Ronald James Fairfield, Jr. Major General, U.S. Army Retired - Obituary. October 18, 1919 — September 19, 2014. General Fairfield complied with his last Permanent Change of Station orders when he passed away on 19 September 2014. His 35 year career was one of challenges and frustrations and yet one that gave him satisfaction and a true sense of accomplishment at his retirement ceremony in 1975. He fought in four wars, three of them twice. He fought in Europe with the U.S. 9th Armored Division. He was assigned to Co. C, 656th Tank Destroyer Battalion and was involved in the first crossing of the Rhine River at Remagen Germany. Two tours in Korea, the first as a Captain, tank company commander and the second tour years later as a Brigadier General, Assistant Division Commander, of the U.S. Seventh Division with a brigade on the DMZ. Two tours in Viet Nam, the first as a Lt. Col. tank battalion commander and the second as a Brigadier General with the Third Regional Command as Deputy Commander directing the war from Saigon out to the Cambodian border. The fourth war was the Cold War against the Soviet Union. He commanded U.S. forces twice--first in the vicinity of the Czechoslovakian border and later as a Cavalry Squadron Commander in support of the 14th U.S. Cavalry in the vicinity of the Fulda Gap The second instance found him as a Colonel, Commander of Support Command of the 3rd Infantry Division against opponents opposite the Fulda Gap of West Germany. His active duty career began as a Sergeant in an Illinois National Guard unit ordered into Federal Service by President Roosevelt in September 1940 and ended with his retirement as a Major General U.S. Army in 1975. His many decorations and awards include but are not limited to: Distinguished Service Medal; Silver Star; Legion of Merit, 4 Oak Leaf Clusters; Bronze Star with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, 2 with V Device for Valor; Purple Heart, 1 Oak Leaf Cluster; Air Medal, 16 Oak Leaf Clusters; U.S. Presidential Unit Citation; Republic of Viet Nam Gallantry Cross with two Palms and Gold Star; Republic of Viet Nam National Order Fifth Class; Republic of Korea Order of National Security.

This is a customized Vietnam War era United States Helicopter Flight Helmet type APH-5 Helmet manufactured by Sierra Engineering Company in size large. The helmet is in overall excellent complete condition with the liner, headset, boom mic, and tinted visor. The helmet has a maker label by Sierra Engineering Company and is a size large. This is a rare Vietnam era original rare helicopter helmet in wonderful complete condition. It  has been custom painted in yellow with large white star to the front. The Reverse is painted BG FAIRFIELD (Brigadier General Fairfield).

The US Army introduced their first flying helmet, the APH-5A or APH-5 Quartermaster helmet in 1959. It was an adapted version of the US Navy Aircrew Protective Helmet no. 5 (APH-5). The change was mainly in the communications system as the US Army used the same impedance standard as the US Air Force. With the introduction of the APH-5A the number of head injuries incurred during US Army aircraft accidents was reduced by half compared to the number of head injuries incurred before helmets were used.

The early examples of the APH-5A had the same thick foam rubber edge roll as the US Navy APH-5 and usually came in white color. Later examples had thin black rubber edge beading and usually came in olive drab color.

The helmet came to us from the American Armoured Foundation, Inc. Tank and Ordnance Memorial Museum. The AAF Tank Museum was a living memorial dedicated to the Tank and Cavalry soldiers of the world. Before 1981 some of the artifacts that make up the AAF Tank Museum was a private collection belonging to Mr. William Gasser. Mr. Gasser felt that his collection would be beneficial in educating present and future generations to the sacrifices made and the technologies gained during war. Therefore, in 1981 the AAF Tank Museum was established as a non-profit charitable organization, and Mr. Gasser's donated his private collection to the Tank Museum. Mr. Gasser is still active as Volunteer Director and Curator of the Tank Museum and his knowledge of military history has been a great asset to the museum. Unfortunately after 20 years of operation it had to close its doors, which is when this uniform was acquired.