On january 3, 1945, 78 years ago yesterday, The 2nd and 3rd Bn of the 501st PIR attacked through the Bois Jacques woods in order to reach the Foy - Michamps road. It was during this attack that G Company lost one of its best NCO's , Sgt William W. Weir of Owosso, Michigan. His helmet was found in these woods more than 30 years ago.
It was always assumed that the big dent in the helmet occured when Weir was KIA, but G Company machine gunner Tex McMorris of Tarzan, Tx testified to historian Mark A. Bando, that the fact occured in Holland when a shell landed near the helmet laying on the ground or on the parapet of Weir's Fox-hole........ but the Sgt could still wear it.... and he did until the day he died.
Sgt Weir had distinguished himself so much in Normandy that he was scheduled to receive the DSC someday.... on the fateful day he was killed, he had not received it and probably never knew he would be so highly honored. The DSC was sent to his familly at the end of the war.
Many thanks to Michel De Trez for publishing this rather unique Bastogne find in his book AMERICAN PARATROOPER HELMETS and to historian Mark Bando.
Collection : Pierre GODEAU
Vous retrouverez ce casque dans le livre Les casque de parachutistes américains de Michel DETREZ page 154.
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