CHL, thanks very much for the information! I had honestly never taken the time to look some of this stuff up and my uncle has been gone over 25 years now. I didn't even know his Division so thank you for that. The shell has fixed bales and the liner is made by Firestone. If the leather chin strap is a relatively thin and narrow piece of leather than yes, I have it.
So restoration parts are available for the liners? I would be interested in knowing more about that. Thank you again!
No problem man...glad that I could help. My Great Grandfather also served as a Army infantryman in the 96th and recently passed away earlier this month at the age of 94.
Aside from a gentle cleaning and reinstalling the chin strap, I would leave the helmet as it sits. Some of the suspension has damage, but it looks to all be there. It's worth alot more both monetarily and sentimentally the way that it was passed on by your uncle. The fact that the helmet is a fixed bale, makes the helmet and liner worth a few to several hundred dollars. I have seen complete, original fixed bale helmets bid over $1000 on eBay when they happened to be from a saught after division. If you're ever in the OKC area I'd be more than willing to you out with getting the liner back in order. From the photo of the liner's interior it looks like it may just need some light cleaning, the leather parts cleaned and conditioned, and the suspension re-tied if the third loop is not torn. From what I understand, the suspension is riveted in place so installing a replacement webbing is quite a big undertaking.
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