Hello,
Does anyone know what color the US Army helment was in the early 70’s?
Thank You, George
Google is your friend: M1 helmet
OD or Forest Green steel pot with a camo cover. Two different patterns were around then: a one sided jungle leaf and a reverseable spring/fall oak leaf pattern. Helmet liners came in a OD or Dark Green, but were then often repainted or lacquered into other green/OD shade. Chin straps came in two differnt styles: a single strap similar to the WWII issue and an open fabric chin cup with a single point attachment, resembling the paratrooper type.
Wow, I was just gonna say “green”.
Yeah, green…The one I kept (stole) is distinctly olive green on the steel pot and the liner is a dark/medium green. I had the single WWII style chin strap for my entire tour, then upgraded to a quick release type stateside. naturally
As Marines we ALWAYS had the cover on the helmet. Green side out, brown side out, run in circles scream and shout! LOL The “jungle leaf” was the most predominant considering where we were. The Corps never used the helmet in any capacity other than in the field. It was part of your “deuce” gear, officially 782 gear. So no shiny chrome domes, polished liners with insignia, or any of those things the Army did.
I remember starching the darn thing and letting it shrink to the helmet. Rotted away rather fast after that. [:-^] I procured a replacement and it lasted another 30 years or so. Just threw it away recently as the writing was illegible and it too dry rotted.
Got the woodland camo covers years after I was gone, i.e. 1978. No more starch…