Lot's of different pics of this sign.

Lot's of different pics of this sign.
"I don't make hell for nobody. I'm only the instrument of a laughing providence. Sometimes I don't like it myself, but I couldn't help it if I was born smart."

1st Sgt. Milton Anthony Warden.
"From here to Eternity"

Paul Valery

"You are in love with intelligence, until it frightens you. For your ideas are terrifying and your hearts are faint. Your acts of pity and cruelty are absurd, committed with no calm, as if they were irresistible. Finally, you fear blood more and more. Blood and time."

The Wisdom of the Ages

"When a young man, I read somewhere the following: God the Almighty said, 'All that is too complex is unnecessary, and it is simple that is needed',"

Mikhail Kalashnikov
"Here lies the bravest soldier I've seen since my mirror got grease on it."

Zapp Brannigan

Thursday, December 07, 2006

Flag Helmet

As a lad of fourteen or so, on a trip to San Francisco I bought this helmet ($18.00). It was described as a First Army "parade helmet" probably painted by some artist working outside of an Army base in the 1920's.
I've since discovered that the First Army, whose shoulder insignia was the big "A" pictured, was formed in Aug. of 1918 and disbanded in April of 1919 in France. It was reformed just prior to WW2 but I don't think my helmet dates from then. Having discovered that many painted helmets were done in Europe during the post-war occupation, and since the unit remained in France after the armistice, it stands to reason that the painting was done there. Any insights that can be offered would be appreciated.
I'm also working on the assumtion that the lightning bolts coming out of the circle painted over the central screw designate the 78th ID, "The Lightning Division".

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