{"product_id":"original-u-s-wwi-named-m1917-2nd-infantry-division-9th-infantry-1st-battalion-doughboy-helmet-indianhead-division","title":"Original U.S. WWI Named M1917 2nd Infantry Division, 9th Infantry, 1st Battalion Doughboy Helmet - Indianhead Division","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice example of a U.S. WWI 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Division M1917 \"Doughboy\" helmet! The shell is maker marked with a stamping on the underside of the rim that reads \u003cstrong\u003eZB 51\u003c\/strong\u003e. The solid rivets and heat lot number indicate that this helmet shell was produced in the United States. Unfortunately the liner and chinstrap are missing. The shell, however exhibits excellent paint, and the insignia is attractively hand painted in place. \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe best feature of this helmet is definitely the original hand painted \u003cstrong\u003e2nd Infantry Division - Indianhead Division\u003c\/strong\u003e emblem in the center of the shield (actually slightly off center). The Division Insignia maintains almost all of the original paint and remains bold and easy to see, though it is a bit faded due to accumulated patina and oxidation over time,, which we have left to preserve the authenticity. The Red Colored Pentagon colored shield around the star indicates that the wearer was a member of the \u003cstrong\u003e1st Battalion of the 9th Infantry\u003c\/strong\u003e, which operated under the 2nd Infantry Division during WWI.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA great example of an authentic named WWI \"Doughboy\" helmet from the 2nd Infantry Division, ready to display!\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2nd Division During WWI\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003e2nd Division\u003c\/strong\u003e was first constituted on 21 September 1917 in the Regular Army. It was organized on 26 October 1917 at Bourmont, Haute Marne, France. At the time of its activation, the \u003cstrong\u003eIndianhead Division\u003c\/strong\u003e was composed of the 3rd Infantry Brigade, which included the 9th Infantry Regiment; the 23rd Infantry Regiment and the 5th Machine Gun Battalion; the 4th Marine Brigade, which consisted of the 5th Marine Regiment, the 6th Marine Regiment and the 6th Machine Gun Battalion; 2nd Brigade of field artillery; and various supporting units. Twice during World War I the division was commanded by US Marine Corps generals, Brigadier General Charles A. Doyen and Major General John A. Lejeune (after whom the Marine Corps Camp in North Carolina is named), the only time in U.S. military history when Marine Corps officers commanded an Army division.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe division spent the winter of 1917–18 training with French and Scottish veterans. Though judged unprepared by French tacticians, the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) was committed to combat in the spring of 1918 in a desperate attempt to halt a German advance toward Paris. Major General Edward Mann Lewis Commanded the 3rd Brigade as they deployed to reinforce the battered French along the Paris to Metz road. The Division first fought at the Battle of Belleau Wood and contributed to shattering the four-year-old stalemate on the battlefield during the Château-Thierry campaign that followed.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn 28 July 1918, Marine Corps Major General Lejeune assumed command of the 2nd Division and remained in that capacity until August 1919, when the unit returned to the US. The division went on to win hard-fought victories at Soissons and Blanc Mont. Finally the Indianhead Division participated in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive which ended any German hope for victory. On 11 November 1918 the Armistice was declared, and the 2nd Division entered Germany, where it assumed occupation duties until April 1919. 2nd Division returned to U.S. in July 1919.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 2nd Division was three times awarded the French Croix de guerre for gallantry under fire at Belleau Wood, Soissons, and Blanc Mont. This entitles current members of the division and of those regiments that were part of the division at that time (including the 5th and 6th Marine Regiments) to wear a special lanyard, or fourragère, in commemoration. The Navy authorized a special uniform change that allows hospital corpsmen assigned to 5th and 6th Marine Regiments to wear a shoulder strap on the left shoulder of their dress uniform so that the fourragère can be worn.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe division lost 1,964 (including USMC: 4,478) killed in action and 9,782 (including USMC: 17,752) wounded in action.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistory of the M1917 Helmet\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe M1917 was the US Army's first modern combat helmet, used from 1917 and during the 1920s, before being replaced by the M1917A1. The M1917A1 helmet was an updated version of the M1917 and initially used refurbished WW1 shells.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe M1917 is a near identical version of the British Mk.I steel helmet, and it is important to note that when the US joined the Great War in 1917 they were initially issued with a supply of around 400,000 British made Mk.Is, before production began state side. The M1917 differed slightly in its lining detail, and exhibited US manufacture markings.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eM1917 helmet liners typically show a paper label at the crown and the dome rivet head. The liner is set up as on the British versions, with an oilcloth band and net configuration, attached to a leather strap, riveted to the shell. The chinstrap is leather with steel buckle.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40192909738053,"sku":"ONSV22WOS150","price":895.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/products\/ONSV22WOS150__01.jpg?v=1657725149","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-wwi-named-m1917-2nd-infantry-division-9th-infantry-1st-battalion-doughboy-helmet-indianhead-division","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}