Original Item: Only One Available. The M1 helmet is a combat helmet that was used by the United States military from World War II until 1985, when it was succeeded by the PASGT helmet. For over forty years, the M1 was standard issue in the U.S. military. The M1 helmet has become an icon of the American military, with its design inspiring other militaries around the world.

This is a fantastic example of a late WWII produced Korean/ Vietnam War era used, M1-C Paratrooper Helmet, in great service worn condition. This helmet came to us as you see it. It is evident that this helmet has been together as pictured for a long time, and is relatively untouched. The steel shell is stamped 435 A / S indicating Schlueter manufacture and dating to being late war produced in 1945.

The shell has a set of swivel (movable) chinstrap loops called bales and a stainless steel rim. These rims were both rust resistant and had non-magnetic qualities that reduced the chance of error readings when placed around certain sensitive equipment (such as a compass). Overall, all components on this helmet are in great condition.

The helmet liner is in excellent service worn condition, and has the original stamping on the webbing still visible but illegible. The chin straps are both intact, with the main helmet chinstrap having the extensions with snaps on the end, which secure the liner to the shell for paratrooper use. Nape Strap is no longer present. The shell has a tactical marking on both sides for the 71st Airborne Brigade.

This helmet is a fine example and still retains all of its original Vietnam War parts and paint. Comes ready to display in your collections!

The 71st Airborne Brigade was an airborne brigade of the United States Army and the Texas Army National Guard. The brigade was active from 15 January 1968 until 1 November 1973.

The formation traces its history to the 71st Infantry Brigade of the 36th Division in World War I, when it had the 141st and 142nd Infantry Regiments, along with the 132nd Machine Gun Battalion, assigned.

The 71st Airborne Brigade consisted of three airborne infantry battalions:

1st Battalion (Airborne), 143d Infantry
2nd Battalion (Airborne), 143d Infantry
3rd Battalion (Airborne), 143d Infantry

These infantry battalions were supported by an airborne field artillery unit headquartered in Port Arthur, Texas:

1st Battalion (Airborne), 133d Field Artillery

The 71st Airborne Brigade (separate) and its successor 36th Airborne Brigade reinforced the 82nd Airborne Division as a 4th Brigade. All 3,300 troopers of the 71st Brigade were authorized to be jump-qualified. On 1 November 1973, the brigade was inactivated and a reduced amount of its personnel and equipment were used to activate the 36th Airborne Brigade, a TDA headquarters. The brigade only had two battalions: 1-143d and 2-143d. On 1 April 1980 the brigade was inactivated and the two battalions were reorganized and reflagged as other types of units. Company A of 2-143d formed Company G (Ranger), 143d Infantry, a corps-level LRRP unit (later LRS) that remained active until 2001.

The brigade's lineage lives on today, embodied in the 71st Battlefield Surveillance Brigade.