My Fallschirmjager Helmet Story with Pictures

[tejanofig]

This is the true story of how I obtained my Paratrooper helmet.
It was the summer of 2000. My sister and I had decided to take our sainted mother to Rome to see the pope. She’s very catholic and it was the 2000th jubilee of the church.
Since I had been to Europe before I was going to be the chaperone.

[tejanofig]

The Problems: I had to fly from Los Angeles to El Paso to pick her up. Them we were going to drive to Dallas and fly out from there. In the meanwhile, my girlfriend, who lived in El Paso, wanted to come.
So the day came and we started our drive to Dallas. It’s a 10 hour trip. Halfway there is Midland of Bush fame. My girlfriend said we should stop and eat as there was a great Mexican restaurant right off the freeway.

[tejanofig]

So we go in and the entrance is like a hallway with photos of the local FFA kids hugging their cow, horse, pig, goat-you get the idea. Now in the dining area is something you will never see in California.
There were two rows of rifles on the wall and I went to go see them. Mostly old shotguns and a type 99. I looked over the wall and I see an object on my upper right, just above touching height. I stare at it and stare at it. It looks familiar but just can’t place it. Then, of course, I squinted at it. It was then that it hit me. I knew what it was and I swear I could see the eagle.

[tejanofig]

The helmet was a dark grey color from years of dust and lard.
When my girlfriend came back I asked her if the owner ever sold any of the things. She said she didn’t think so.
He eventually came to our table and so I asked him. He just said maybe we could talk after we got back.
So we went to Europe, saw the pope, etc,etc,etc.
We got back on a Friday. We were whiped out. We decided to leave on Sunday. So I get up early as I figured the restaurant would be open. Menudo time. That’s a food-not the band.

[tejanofig]

However, the women decide to go---shopping. We finally leave at 3pm. By the time we get to the restaurant it is 8pm. Closed.
After a few days in El Paso I told my girlfriend how much I had wanted the helmet. So she says-call him. She had his number.

[tejanofig]

So I called and made him two offers. One for a shell and one if it had the liner and straps. When he said-Let me go look I knew I was going to get it.
I, however, did not know that it was a camo helmet until I got home to my moms. The grease and dust had covered it and actually protected it. The heat though had dried out the liner.

[tejanofig]

The only info he had was that a doctor who had been in the war had given it to him. Hope you like it.

[tejanofig]

The end.

[Mikey]

That's a once in a life time story, congrats on a great find!

[Remco]

Congrads with the helmet, great story also.

[mathluft]

Nice helmet and nice story

[mwl]

Nice helmet and story I bet you were a little unfocused during your stay in Europe (I certainly would have been)
Regards,
Mats

[Matt]

Helmet and story

Love it! Thanks for sharing...

[helmhunter]

Very nice M38 camo.

Phil.

[Waffenreich]

Great story, and great helmet

It almost looks like the band has been purposely bent inwards so that a bigger band would fit in this shell. On a nice talk-to-you piece like this that's nice to see as you can imagine guys out in the field working on their gear.

This guy is probably going to get a ton of business now from rifle collectors