M16 Camo Helmet With Bullet Hole

[PlaceOfBayonets]

All a simple matter of how deep the shrapnel went into his skull and at what angle. And who knows. Unless that was a bullet hole. I have no idea.

Great War Militaria was selling a M16 that had a 45 cal slug penetrate the side, and stuck into the inside of the opposite side of the helmet. Clearly that was a KIA case. I wanted to buy that helmet but was short on cash and it did not stay up long.

Wilhelm

[CWP]

Nice helmet. I love the mud in the vent. There's no way to know if the soldier was wearing the helmet when it was hit. I prefer to think that he may not have been. I believe sometimes GIs shot these helmets for a more dramatic souvenir.

[Jean-Loup]

I think by the iregularity and general appearance of the hole that it was made by a small piece of schrapnel, that must not have had much energy left in it after it made this hole.
Apparently, the tip of one of the liner tongs is also damaged by the piece of schrapnel, though it is hard to say from the pictures. If you inspect the inside closely, you might find a very small "exit bump".
I have a gut feeling that it wasnt being worn when this happened, though it is hard to say. At least, since it is schrapnel damaged, it wasnt shot for fun.
Nice helmet.
JL