ORIG T-5 ETO-WORN FIXED BAIL M1 HELMET FIELD GEAR & CLOTHING GROUP 716th RAIL BN

Description

This is an impressive, 100% original group of items from a T-5 who served in the European Theater with the 716th Railway Operating Battalion (Joseph P. Skalka, Army Serial Number 32901661). The items include an original US M1 fixed bail helmet with liner, exactly as it came home from the ETO at the end of WWII; photographs of the soldier during his time in the ETO, one of which shows him wearing the helmet; a musette bag; khaki "suntan" shirts with rank insignia; a pair of wool OD enlisted man's trousers; a pistol belt with canteen set and Carlisle bandage in red tin (personalized with the soldier's initials); two pairs of leggings; technical and field manuals and a US Army-issued ETO road map for France; a khaki wool garrison cap, piped orange; various unit insignia; and the duffle bag in which all this came home from the ETO. Nothing has been added or altered in this set, it is as the soldier brought the items home to the USA at the end of WWII. Many of the items are named to the soldier, with his full Army Serial Number.  This soldier was with a rarely encountered unit, and this is generally a quite rare grouping; I have not seen many items from a soldier  who served in a railway battalion, and I certainly have not had such a complete group of combat-used ETO items. ************** The set consists of: (1) US M1 fixed bail helmet shell, McCord Radiator manufacture, heat-of steel number 120C. The helmet shell has its original khaki chinstraps, with pre- to early WWII hollow-back brass buckle. (2) The liner is by Capac, it has green-painted washers so dates to mid-1943 to mid-1944. The liner is complete with original sweatband and nape strap (very soiled, as you would expect from a helmet worn in combat for several months). The soiling of the webbing obscures the manufacturer of both the sweatband and nape strap. The nape is khaki cotton, single piece, with single herringbone twill weave. The sweatband has a green-painted, single-piece steel buckle. Spring clips holding the sweatband are an earlier type of green-painted steel with no reinforcing ridge at the end of the clip. The liner has its original factory-applied paint. The name of another soldier, "Cunningham," is scribed into the inside of the liner.  (3) Five black-and-white photo prints, of photos apparently taken by the soldier. One shows him wearing what appears to be a US Army rain parka, crouching in snow holding a Springfield M1903A3 rifle. He is wearing his M1 helmet under the hood, along with OD wool pants and service shoes with leggings. The back of the photo is stamped "PASSED BY US ARMY EXAMINER 42080," and it also has a number 0140 and the Army censor's note and initials, "Not for Pub, VEJ." Worth noting that it is extremely rare to find a combat-worn M1 helmet and a picture of the soldier wearing the helmet. Two other photos are of destroyed railway bridges, the soldier has written notes on these as follows: "Crossing the Rhine River on the Ernie Pyle Memorial Bridge at Mannhiem, going into Mannhiem. (France)" The same note is written on the back of the photo. The second photo has annotated a drawing of railroad tracks crossing the river, with "FRANCE" and "RHINE RIVER" added as labels to show where the photo was taken. The back also has a note, "Bridge over the Rhine, Mannhiem," along with a sketch showing the relationship of the smashed bridge's twisted steel remants with relation to France and Germany. A fourth photo is of an unexploded bomb half-buried in the soil, with a note on back: "This one didn't work! St. Cyr." The fifth photo is a group of four soldiers, three are wearing M1 helmets with nets. All are dressed for combat, two are wearing M41 field jackets, one is in OD coveralls. One of the men is holding a dog. They are posed in front of a German railway car. All of the photos are original prints, they measure about 3 by 4 inches. (4) A set of three patches, including a green-edged ETO patch, one for Seventh Army, and one for Army Service Forces. All are mint, never used. There is also a Meritorious Unit Commendation, it is also unused. (5) An M1936 musette bag, stamped US on front, and "ARNOLD MFG. CO. 1943" inside the flap. Hardware is a combination of black-painted steel and blackened brass. Cloth is a brownish shade of khaki. It has an OD strap of a type unknown to me, perhaps taken from a piece of radio equipment. (6) A pair of OD wool enlisted man's trousers, size 32 inch waist and 33 inch inseam. The specification label is sewn to an inside pocket, this reads: "Trousers, Field, Wool Serge, 18 oz. Special, Stock No. 55-T-35032-33, 32 x 33, SEMINOLE MFG. CO. P.O. No. 7784, Dated Dec. 4, 1944, Q.M.C. Tent. Spec. P.Q.D. No. 353A, Pattern Dated April, 1944, Phila. Q.M. Depot, Inspector." The waist of the pants measures at 32 inches, the inseam at 32 1/2 inches, so they do not appear to have been altered. (7) Pistol belt with canteen set and Carlisle bandage with pouch. The pistol belt is khaki, stamped on front with US, manufacturer's name stamped inside, I believe this is "SF Co. Inc.," for the S. Froehlich Company of New York City. The canteen is aluminum, M1910 model, stamped on back with "U.S. A.G.M. Co. 1918." The canteen has its original knurled aluminum cap, brass chain, and cork. The canteen cup is zinc-plated steel with a sharp lip, the handle is steel, stamped with "U.S. K.M. Co. 1942," indicating that it was made by the Knapp Monarch Company of St. Louis, Missouri. The canteen cover is OD canvas, stamped U.S. on front, and "Jeff. Q.M.D. 1942" on back, so it was made at the Jeffersonville, Indiana Quartermaster Depot in 1942. The Carlisle bandage pouch is khaki with a blackened brass lift-the-dot snap, it is stamped on back with "THE DURA-PRODUCT MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 1942." Inside is a red-painted Carlisle bandage tin, unopened, scribed with the soldier's initials, "J.S." (for Joseph Skalka). There is another soldier's name written inside the flap, but this is crossed out and not legible to me. The service ID number is also written there, M7135. (Note that it is not unusual to find multiple soldiers' names and ID numbers on combat-used equipment, items were commonly re-issued and passed around after a soldier was wounded or otherwise left the line -- sometimes soldiers simply traded items).  (8) Two pairs of khaki canvas leggings, both are size 2R. One pair of the leggings is stamped with Skalka's ID number, S1661. The pair that is stamped with the number was made by Tweedie footwear under a contract dated 8-23-41. The other pair was made by two different manufacturers, one is by NASCO Awnings Inc., the other is by the Hillsdale Manufacturing Company. The NASCO legging is dated 1942, the other shows no legible date. Both pairs are worn and quite soiled, again expected for combat-used gear. Neither pair of leggings has laces. (9) A very nice, private purchase men's garrison cap, in a lightweight, soft, khaki wool. There is a leather sweatband inside, and the cap is lined with gold-colored satin. A white linen size label is present, this is 7 1/8. The cap is piped in orange, or perhaps orange and red. The cap has written in ink, inside the sweatband, some letters and numbers, these look like a soldier's ID number, B 16 and B 6847.  (10) Two enlisted man's khaki cotton "suntan" shirts, one is 15 1/2 x 33, the other 15 x 33. One has Skalka's ID number stamped inside the neck (S-1661), the other has his ID number hand-written inside the tail, along with other numbers, including the same numbers that were written inside the garrison cap (B-6847, and B 16). Also hand-written there is a name, "Murry Enis." The ID number M-7199 is neatly written in the neck, and the full Army Serial Number, 42047199 is neatly inked on the outside of the tail.  The shirt just described has no rank or unit insignia but appears to have had T-5 chevrons sewn to it at one time. The second shirt has T-5 chevrons neatly hand-sewn to the sleeves with blue thread. The rank insignia are made of silver rayon embroidered onto blue cotton twill. This shirt has Skalka's ID number, S1661, stamped into the neck area twice. (11) A set of manuals and a map, as follows: Technical Manual TM 10-575, Diesel Engines and Fuels, July 25, 1941.  The name "Joe Skalka" is written in ink on the cover, along with "32901661." This is also written inside on the first page. Field Manual FM 55-55, Railway Operating Battalion, 4 February 1944.  Written across the top of the cover is "Joe P Skalka 32901661," this is repeated on the inside of the first page. A folding map inside a brown paper folder, "EUROPE ROAD MAP SERIES 1:1,000,000, FRANCE, For use by War and Navy Department Agencies only, Not for sale or distribution, ARMY MAP SERVICE, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, U.S. ARMY, 9/44." Written across the front is "Joseph P. Skalka." (12) An OD canvas US Army duffle bag, stamped with "U.S." on front, and "THOMPSON'S 1944" inside the top. The bag is stenciled in black "JOSEPH P. SKALKA 32901661." Stenciled in white at the bottom is RE 7416-S and B, these are codes for returning soldiers who were boarding troop ships for the return voyage home after WWII. ************ Condition of these items ranges from good to excellent. The M1 helmet is in good to very good condition. The steel shell perhaps has been repainted, though this is hard to tell. There is a nice brown patina to the steel helmet, the texture is worn. The chinstrap is a bit worn and has some soiling. The straps appear to have been re-attached by stitching with khaki cotton stitching (see detail photo of helmet). This is not uncommon, two of the combat worn ETO helmets that I have owned had re-stitched chinstraps (and a third, if you count a re-welded D-bail M2). The webbing, nape strap, and leather sweatband are heavily soiled, again, as expected for a combat worn helmet. The liner is solid, the paint has worn on the crown and in various spots, but there are no splits, cracks or other problems. A steel spring clip is missing from the sweatband. ******** Shirts and trousers are in very good condition, the trousers have some mud on one leg, they are a bit soiled, there are a couple of small dark marks, but I see no moth holes or other damage. Shirts are clean and in very good condition, complete with all original buttons and still have nice color. The canteen set is in good condition, canteen shows dings and soiling, probably from heating over a fire, the cup has some corrosion as the zinc-plated steel versions easily oxidized. The tab on the canteen cover has a couple of tears where it attaches. The garrison cap is in excellent condition, shows a little sweat stain at the bottom but overall in nice shape with no moth holes. Manuals and maps are in fine shape. The musette bag is in excellent condition, shows little wear, only some soiling and a bit of corrosion on one of the buckles. The duffle bag has some wear and soiling, but expected for a bag that held gear on a troop ship coming home from the ETO. The photos are in fine shape, they are glossy prints and there is some slight cracking to the finish as expected for an old photo, but they are nice and clean with clear writing on them. *********
A detailed unit history of the 716th Railway Operating Battalion (published in 1946) is available online, through the public library of Bangor, Maine. Skalka is listed in the history, he was in Company A of the 716th. His address in 1946 is listed as Brooklyn, New York.
This source gives the following information:
December · 21st, 1943 marked the day of activation of the 716th Railway Operating
Battalion. The outfit, sponsored by the Southern Pacific- Railroad, began its life at
Fort Sam Houston (San Antonio), Texas with officer personnel drawn chiefly from the
sponsor and a cadre made up of "veterans" of the 726th, the unit that had recently
completed its technical training on the Santa Fe at Clovis, New Mexico. For the most part,
both the officer personnel and the cadre were former railroad men.
Officers and cadre, aided by a few hastily-mustered raw recruits, found themselves working against a deadline to receive the hundreds of new inductees that were to arrive from all
parts of the United States to complement the personnel of the 716th and other
military outfits to be activated at Fort Sam Houston. Barracks had to be readied-rations
drawn-and a multitude of things done. As they did- they learned. This nucleus of
officers and cadremen had to be one step ahead of the men they were to train and for
whom they were to be responsible.
During the second week of January, the officers began checking Forms 20 and to their
amazement found that of the full strength of 891 enlisted men. (authorized strength-824)
only 32% had previous railroad experience which fitted them for the ultimate mission.
The task ahead was momentous-not only would they be required to make soldiers out
of citizens- but railroaders, too, out of butchers, bakers, and truckdrivers (there wasn't
a candlestickmaker among them).
D + 81 -the 716th's invasion of France. Every man fully armed-keyed to high tension
with the spirit of battle-but not a damned round of ammo among the whole lot. Predecessors thoughtfully had built a steel pier so it wasn't with light pack and up to armpits
in brine that these men charged the beach. Rather, they once more lugged their constant
burden of bags and equipment up the rise and over into a field for a break.
A detail of cripples and gold-brickers remained there to guard the mountains of duffle
bags while the main body marched nine miles "in a variety of directions to reach a bivouac
area some five miles distant where, in total darkness, they put to practice what they'd
learned at Bullis about pitching shelter halves.
The next day more principles were put to practice. Men were cautioned about water,
mine fields, and booby traps. They were a little skittish at first-they were not inclined
to think there was much danger in view of the thousands who'd occupied the same area.
But, as they advanced, they learned-and it may be said to the credit of the unit that
no injuries were ever sustained because of meddling or experimenting contrary to their
teachings.
Two days in bivouac and rain-but Texas had prepared the men for that. They knew
what to do-they just endured it. Of course, the menus were the ones anticipated, "C" and
"K" rations.
... It wasn't long until the Thionville-Hargarten-Falck line was opened-a double track road into Germany that supplied three armies.
There was the "Three Star Special" which carried high priority goods.
Right over orders could go only to the many Hospital trains. Then later
came the "Toot Sweet" that carried the mail, sometimes more important than food.
Check the record! The 716th, during February, March, and April,
handled an average of 74 military freight trains per day. That figure
does not include the many troop, POW, hospital, D.P. trains.
Technical days at Cushing seemed far away. There the men knew they
were being trained for tough assignments, but the reality of actual
wartime operations was far beyond the most extravagant thoughts of
the soldier-railroaders as they daily accepted and accomplished their
"missions" without hesitancy. Surely there was much bitching but that
was only because Army operations demanded Army customs.
Proof of the accomplishments of the unit during the Metz "occupation" was in the presentation of the Meritorious Service Award, received
for the period February 1st to March 31st.
It was during this period that from all legs of the huge spider-web
of track, trains flowed into the funnel at Thionville where they were
numbered, classed by priority and dispatched down the Falck Line for
d elivery to the 732nd- on one more leg of the long journey from beachhead to the front. As the Falck Line opened it was necessary to move
part of the dispatcher's staff to Thionville and later, to Hargatten-Falck.
Outside of the original operations on the Paris-Dreux Line, H & H
experienced the roughest of its operations in the ETO in Metz and the
contiguous areas.
ESSLINGEN
GERMANY AND VICTORY
As the main body of the 716th crossed the Rhine on May 8th the
shooting war in the E. T. 0. was over. V-E Day- Victory in Europe!
Over the radio came newscasts of the "madness" of victory in the
celebrations in the big cities at home.
This is to me an amazing set of items. I have had the grouping for over 16 years, hate to part with it, but it is time to let it go to a new owner who will continue to be its curator and caretaker. There are not many original WWII sets like this available, I doubt that you could find a more complete set of items from a GI who served in a railway battalion. ************ I can ship worldwide. Shipping is free to a US address. Non-US buyers pay exact postage costs only.