Operation Dragoon Paratrooper helmet.

[Jean-Loup]

Thanks for the extra comments guys, Its always nice to read them. Unfortunatly, this is probably a once in a life time event, as in a few years, the vets will be gone.
"Again, I'm just glad the helmet found its way to you,and not to some anonymous eBay bidding couch potato."
Over here we have the luck of being able to find things in their "historical bath", still in the house, next to which the material was abandoned, etc. You can usualy figure out when and how it got there, with the help of locals.
JL

[junior]

JeanL!
EXELLENT WORK!

My best regards,
Junior

[Jean-Loup]

j

[Jean-Loup]

l

[Jean-Loup]

W

[Jean-Loup]

C

[kennethc]

a Wonderful thread A++ A very interesting and rare helmet and story A++

[MAS36]

517th paratrooper helmet

wow, thats a very interesting story about how you found that helmet and contacted the original soldier that used it back in 1944, it's priceless, it's hard to find something like that.

looks like the helmet use to have a net, then they painted over it, to make camoflage

[Jean-Loup]

h

[Striking 9th]

JL, I have read this post before. I can't remember if I commented on it or not. Anyway you seem like a nice guy threw the PM's we have exchanged. You put lots of time in to save these items from the ground. Every now and then something good happens to everyone. You deserved this and I am happy for you. Great helmet and very good legwork to fill in the story.
Scott

[JONNY P]

wow, thats a very interesting story about how you found that helmet and contacted the original soldier that used it back in 1944, it's priceless, it's hard to find something like that.

looks like the helmet use to have a net, then they painted over it, to make camoflage

The camouflage painting of uniforms and equipment for Operation 'Dragoon' was standardised throughout the U.S. Parachute units of 1st Airborne Taskforce. Everything was simply laid out and quickly sprayed over in green, black and tan paint to aid camouflage. Helmets were painted with nets on if they had them as speed was more important than neatness, when helmets nets were removed, lost or damaged they were left with this rather unique pattern.

[Jean-Loup]

5 years ago when I found Marvin Moles, he had never been in contact with any 517 PRCT Men since the war, and he didnt really have much to say about it.
After his trip to France, he got in touch with the 517 PRCT association, and since then he has gone to many reunions, and met up with the survivors of his companie.
Below is a photo he sent me by mail a few days ago.

[Edelweiss]

Great thread JL, sorry I never posted here since it started. But well, we already had several other occasions to discuss about this very subject on the WAF (and in real life too), and I guess it won't be the last time.

Anyway, I wanted you to know that I'm never far away from your topics, even if I don't post in each and every one of them.

Congrats again for your time, patience... and luck somewhere too ! But passion and energy above all.

[Jean-Loup]

Looking back at this threads everal years later, it has really become a bit of a mess. Many of the photos are poor quality, and I edited some posts, etc. I should remake this thread one day.

In the meantime, I got an email from Marvin's daughter yesterday, with these photos and this article.


After 68 years, ‘Battling Buzzards’ reunite for last time at <ST1<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Fort</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Benning</st1:PlaceName></ST1<O</O

By BEN WRIGHT - benw@ledger-enquirer.com <O</O
Members of a World War II combat unit known as the “Battling Buzzards” returned to <ST1<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Fort</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Benning</st1:PlaceName></ST1’s Eubanks Field for the last time Friday during a reunion at the jump school.<O</O
“This is the end of the line,” Marvin Moles said as 435 Airborne graduates were presented jump wings during a <st1:metricconverter w:st="on" ProductID="9 a">9 a</st1:metricconverter>.m. ceremony. “We are back where we started in <st1:metricconverter w:st="on" ProductID="1943.”">1943.”</st1:metricconverter><O</O
Moles of Dublin, Va., was one of 30 members of the 517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team who came to Fort Benning to watch an Airborne graduation ceremony similar to the one that turned them into elite paratroopers 68 years ago. It was the last reunion for the soldiers, many in their late 80s and early 90s. The soldiers saw heavy action in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Italy</st1:country-region>, southern <st1:country-region w:st="on">France</st1:country-region> and the <st1:City w:st="on">Battle</st1:City> of the Bulge during World War II but couldn’t have been successful on the battlefield without training at <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Fort</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Benning</st1:PlaceName> and at <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Camp</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Toccoa</st1:PlaceName> in north <st1:country-region w:st="on"><ST1Georgia</ST1lace</st1:country-region>. <O</O
Marvin Moles, left, with the help of his daughter, Diane Lynch, pins Airborne wings on a graduate of the Basic Airborne Course at Fort Benning Friday morning during a graduation ceremony. Moles, a paratrooper with the 517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team in World War II, was among the group of former paratroopers visiting <ST1<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Fort</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Benning</st1:PlaceName></ST1lace Friday morning as part of a reunion. <O</O
Moles recalled how soldiers were ordered to run <st1:metricconverter w:st="on" ProductID="1,500 yards">1,500 yards</st1:metricconverter> to determine the best soldiers to fight. At <ST1<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Fort</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Benning</st1:PlaceName></ST1lace, Moles said none of the soldiers in training failed to get through jump school. <O</O
“That’s a pretty good record,” he said. <O</O
After jump school and another six months of advance training, Moles fought two battles in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Italy</st1:country-region> before his unit jumped into the dark during the invasion of southern <st1:country-region w:st="on"><ST1France</ST1</st1:country-region> on Aug. 15, 1944. Landing some 35 to <st1:metricconverter w:st="on" ProductID="40 miles">40 miles</st1:metricconverter> off their course, Moles said he watched one of his fellow soldiers drop through a tiled roof. <O</O
“You just went out the plane,” he said. “My plane was slow and my chute was open when I hit the ground. I was relieved to get on ground.”<O</O
And so was Joe Calder of <ST1<st1:City w:st="on">Raleigh</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">N.C.</st1:State></ST1lace For Calder, the invasion of <st1:country-region w:st="on">France</st1:country-region> brought back memories of jump training at <ST1<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Fort</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Benning</st1:PlaceName></ST1lace. <O></O>
Calder, 89, said he could have been lost if he had parachuted into one of the large wells in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><ST1France</ST1lace</st1:country-region>. <O</O
“In <st1:country-region w:st="on"><ST1France</ST1</st1:country-region>, they had great big wells,” he said using his hands to describe the opening. “If I had been about a foot farther that way, I would have went down that damn well.”<O</O
The 517th were scattered and that forced some of the combat team to join lost British paratroopers. <O</O
“It was a band of about 100 of us,” Calder said.<O</O
Calder said he never forgot about a black truck driver who wanted to fight with a combat unit. He left his 2-ton truck and joined the 517th, even though blacks weren’t allowed in combat units at the time.<O</O
“He left his truck and came with us as a rifleman,” Calder said. “He stayed with us three months or so. When he went back to his truck, the commander had to write a letter and explain he was with the 517th on the front line.” <O</O
Ray Hess, 86, of <ST1<st1:City w:st="on">Bethlehem</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">Pa.</st1:State></ST1, said it’s a wonderful feeling to return to where it all started. <O</O
“We were the first to jump with helmets,” he said.<O</O
The visit to <ST1<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Fort</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Benning</st1:PlaceName></ST1 was eye opening for many of family members who came to experience what their fathers had only told stories about. <O</O
Donna Shelton of <st1:City w:st="on">St. Louis</st1:City> and her sister, Diane Lynch of <ST1<st1:City w:st="on">Dublin</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">Va.</st1:State></ST1, came with their father, Marvin Moles. <O</O
“This is extremely special for everyone,” Lynch said. “He has told us many stories. He has painted a story with words.”<O</O
<st1:City w:st="on"><ST1Shelton</ST1</st1:City> said all the grandchildren love to hear Moles tell stories about the “Battling Buzzards.” When Moles saw the “Band of Brothers,” an 11-hour World War II television miniseries, he said it was close to his experiences in war. “He said he smelled the smoke, smelled the burning flesh,” <st1:City w:st="on"><ST1Shelton</ST1</st1:City> said. “He said it came right back to him. It was all right there. He said that was real.” <O</O
Carole Calder, daughter of Joe Calder, said the reunion was really a proud day. <O</O
“It makes me understand what he went through with this group,” she said. <O</O
After the ceremony, the soldiers and relatives went on a tour of the <ST1<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">National</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Infantry</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Museum & Soldier</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Center</st1:PlaceType></ST1lace.<O</O
The graduation ceremony also showed the spirit of the Airborne soldier. <O</O
“It’s exhilarating to see the spirit,” said Lt. Gen. Richard Seitz, a young commander of the combat team in 1943. “That’s one thing that hasn’t changed. The spirit is still great, the enthusiasm.”<O</O
Seitz, 93, of <ST1<st1:City w:st="on">Junction City</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">Kan.</st1:State></ST1, said soldiers still walk the same as they did 68 years ago.<O</O
“They strut just like they used to,” he said. “They have respect like they used to. They have that look in their eyes and the training is so good.” <O</O

Read more: http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2011/07/16/1657873/wwii-veterans-return-to-post.html#disqus_thread#ixzz1SjqVNkkW<O></O>

[Jean-Loup]

A sad day today: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/roa...&pid=159904040

Marvin Davis Moles joyfully entered into heaven on Friday, September 14. 2012. He was born on March 7, 1923 in Floyd County to Bethlehem and Lucy Moles and he married the love of his life, Edna Boothe Moles, in 1943. He served in the 517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team in World War II and fought in Italy, Southern France and was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium. He was awarded a Silver Star, Purple Heart and other combat medals and enjoyed visiting with his fellow paratroopers and their families and friends from France at the 517th reunions. He was President and co-owner of Air Control Corporation until his retirement. He was a member of Abundant Life Ministries in Pulaski for over 50 years. He was predeceased by his parents, a sister, Lora Moles and his wife of 54 years, Edna. He leaves to cherish his memory his children and their spouses, Joan and Rev. Howard Starling, Gibsonville, N.C., Marvin Jr. and Elaine Moles, Gene and Debbie Moles, Pulaski, Donna and Rev. Rick Shelton, St. Louis, Mo., Diane and Mark Lynch, Salem, Teresa and Rob Jones, St. Louis, Mo.
His grandchildren are Brady and Becky Moles, Keri and Scott Peterson, Chad and Kelly Moles, Jeffrey, Josh and Tori, Gabe and Garrett Shelton, Heather and Brady Torrence, Robbie, Tori and Micaela Jones. His great grandchildren are Ben Moles, Ellie Peterson, Bethany Moles, Miles, Lila, Ansley and Monroe Shelton.
He is survived by his brothers and sisters, Mae Page, Neva Eversole, Harris and Crystaline Moles, Nelcie and Melvin Compton, Iva Gardner, Lois Edmonds, Clyde and Marsha Moles, Frances Worrell, Shasta Sue Moles and Esther Beth Moles. He is also survived by his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Ann Jones, Nancy Bragg, Jimmy and Betty Boothe, Jean and Joyce Huff, Christine and Gary Horton, and Joe and Mary Boothe. He is also survived by many nephews and nieces and their families and numerous friends.
Stevens Funeral Home is handling arrangements. The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. on Monday, September 17, 2012 at Abundant Life Ministries on Route 11, Pulaski. The funeral service will be at Abundant Life Ministries on Tuesday, September 18, 2012, at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Randall Lawrence and the Rev. Rick Shelton officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Memory Gardens, Dublin. Marvin and his family requests that in lieu of flowers memorials be made to his beloved 517th PRCT, c/o Joanne Barrett, 70 Pleasant Street, Cohasset, MA 02025 to carry on the legacy of the 517th's service or a Veteran's <!-- Begin AdTech Script -->charity of your choice<!-- End AdTech Script -->.