Friday, January 22, 2016

M1 combat helmet: a crown for The King of Rock and Roll


Multiple Grammy Award winning artist and American icon Elvis Presley served in the US Army from 1958 to 1960 and spent most of his active duty stationed in West Germany. 


  Elvis, second from right. (courtesy Kevin Booth).



Elvis was in an armored unit, and here, he wear's a tanker's shoulder-holster (courtesy, Kevin Booth).


 Presley's helmet is displayed today in "Graceland" his Memphis Tennessee mansion, which is a major tourist attraction today.
 (photo credit: vintagerachel.blogspot.com)


 Although popularly known as "The King of Rock and Roll" Presley was a versatile artist, recording hits in many genres including pop, gospel, country, blues, and rockabilly
         


 This M1 appears to have a very new, and crisp liner strap.  Also evident is a camouflage band although there appears to be no corresponding cover.



This, and the following photos illustrate how commonly the liner was worn as a
stand-alone piece of headgear.



 Even in Germany Elvis was surrounded by his female admirers.


 When I was a kid our next-door neighbor had been in the Army with Presley and said that Elvis was very down-to-earth and just a
 "regular guy", never expecting any special treatment.


 Shown here to good effect is the m.38 armored vechicle crewman's helmet, first introduced in 1941 and in use until the early period of the Vietnam War. 

Presley attained the rank of sergeant while serving with the
3rd Armored Division in Germany.


Sgt Elvis Presley 1935 - 1977
"The King"

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