Ep 114: The Fog of War and Humanity with Richard Acritelli and guest Tom Spier P2 on hmTv

In Episode 114 of The Fog of War and Humanity on hmTv, host Richard Acritelli continues his powerful conversation with military historian and helmet collector Tom Spier in Part 2 of their series. This episode takes a deep dive into the evolution and historical significance of American helmets used during World War II, particularly during the Normandy invasion.

From early M1 helmet models and their wartime modifications to paratrooper-specific gear and rare tank crew helmets, Tom shares fascinating insights drawn from his extensive collection. The discussion also highlights General Eisenhower’s emotional visit with young airborne troops on the eve of D-Day, bringing personal stories and leadership under pressure into sharp focus.

Listeners will gain a deeper appreciation for the practical design, field-tested innovations, and personal histories behind these iconic military artifacts—reminders of the courage and sacrifice of those who wore them.

Stay tuned for the next episode, where Tom presents German combat helmets and the contrasts between Allied and Axis battlefield equipment.

Transcript

Episode 114 – The Fog of War and Humanity with Richard Acritelli and guest Tom Spier (Part 2) | hmTv

Richard Acritelli:
Welcome back. I'm Rich Acritelli and I'm here again with Tom Spier to my left. In our last discussion, we covered Tom’s extensive helmet collection—one of the most fascinating I've seen—and we thought it would be a great idea to continue the conversation by focusing on the American helmets used during the Normandy invasion.

We’re going to dig into the types of helmets that faced the Atlantic Wall, including those worn by airborne units behind the lines. Tom, welcome back.

Tom Spier:
Thanks, Rich. Yeah, we've looked at bomber and gunner helmets, even naval helmets, and now we’re moving toward the gear worn on land—like this early World War II M1 helmet from my collection. It's a good example of what soldiers might’ve worn during the Normandy campaign.

Richard:
To the average person, all WWII helmets may look the same. But as you’ve taught me, there are differences—this one has a “Holly” liner and was likely manufactured around 1941, right?

Tom:
Exactly. The Holly liner was one of the earliest versions. The problem was it absorbed water and degraded over time, which is why good condition examples are rare today. This one’s pretty beat up—but that actually helps prove its authenticity. The shell itself went through several evolutions, including changes to the bales. Early models had fixed bales—welded in place. Later ones, starting around 1943, had swivel bales that allowed more flexibility.

Richard:
And even subtle changes like moving the seam from the front to the back of the helmet helped indicate when and where it was made. Do we know how well these helmets performed?

Tom:
They were pretty effective. The U.S. Army continued to use variations of the M1 well into the 1980s. You’ll see them worn by Marines in Lebanon, for example. The helmet I’m showing now even has the original owner’s name and serial number written inside. I looked him up once—found a match on the VA grave locator, but never learned much more.

Richard:
It’s amazing to think this helmet could have been worn by someone waiting to storm the beaches on D-Day. These young guys, some just 18 or 19 years old, wore these relatively simple but life-saving pieces of gear. They weren’t just soldiers—they were also cooks, tailors, paratroopers—each playing a role in the great crusade across the channel.

Tom:
Yeah, and the next helmet in the collection actually came from my cousin in New Mexico. This one has a fiberglass liner—better than the older ones because it doesn’t absorb water and lasts longer.

Richard:
Does that make it any lighter?

Tom:
Not really. It just doesn’t degrade when wet. That improvement alone meant it saw decades of use. You can also see it has the swivel bales we talked about. And yes, millions of these were made. Various companies across the country took part in production—some even retooled automobile factories.

Richard:
Here’s one with a net covering. That was used for camouflage, right?

Tom:
Exactly. Soldiers would weave twigs and brush into the net to blend into the environment. This helmet also features a ball clip on the strap, designed to detach under upward force—so if you were in an explosion or crash, it wouldn’t snap your neck. A small but thoughtful design evolution.

Richard:
You also have a paratrooper helmet—tailored for airborne jumps. Tell us about that one.

Tom:
These helmets have liners that snap directly into the shell so they don’t separate during a jump. You’d see these worn by the 82nd or 101st Airborne. They also had additional straps—a yolk-style system—that helped the helmet stay secure even in rough landings.

Richard:
Eisenhower visited the airborne troops before D-Day, didn’t he?

Tom:
Yes, he did. He was anxious about the airborne operation and went out of his way to connect with the men, even asking them where they were from, if they played football, trying to calm them and humanize the moment before such a harrowing mission. Some of those young men were wearing helmets just like this one.

Richard:
That’s what’s so powerful about this collection, Tom. Each helmet carries echoes of individual stories—of kids from Long Island, Kansas, Ohio—who stormed beaches, parachuted behind enemy lines, or served in tanks.

Speaking of tanks, what do we have here?

Tom:
This is a tank helmet, likely a Model 1938. It has ventilation holes to help with the heat inside the vehicle and was designed to hold communications gear. It looks similar to a leather football helmet—and in some ways, it functions like one. I’ve seen some stamped with the Spalding name.

Richard:
It’s fascinating how the military turned to sports-like designs for practical purposes. Patton, who designed his own flashy uniform, probably wore something similar when he was in a tank.

Tom:
Absolutely. Abrams, too—he later became Army Chief of Staff. He was a tough, stocky guy. Football backgrounds and military leadership seemed to go hand-in-hand back then.

Richard:
The last item on the table is a pair of flat goggles. What were those used for?

Tom:
These were intended for airmen—to protect their eyes from shrapnel or splinters. But honestly, I doubt many wore them. They likely impaired vision too much. Never seen a photo of one being used in combat.

Richard:
And yet, they were issued—just one of the countless innovations or trial pieces during the war effort. Even if not widely used, they were part of the broader attempt to protect our troops.

Tom:
Exactly. And now they’re part of the history we preserve and study.

Richard:
Tom, thank you again for sharing your knowledge and collection with us. In the next segment, we’ll be examining some German helmets and how they compare in design and function.

We’ll be right back with more from The Fog of War and Humanity here on hmTv.