CPL Mel Brooks Autographed M1 Helmet
Autographed M1 helmet silver sharpie by “CPL Mel Brooks 1104 COMBAT ENG” and signed “Singing in The Rain!” on other side. The helmet is a standard M1 swivel bale helmet that has likely been repainted. Liner is a Westinghouse manufacture stamped W and D 29 at top of interior. Helmet was acquired by consigner from individual who worked at studios in California. No certificate of authenticity for signature included. We cannot verify authenticity. Please see photos for condition.
Summary of sheet that accompanies the helmet regarding his military service: Melvin James Brooks (ne Kaminsky; born June 28, 1926) is an American actor, comedian, filmmaker and songwriter. In early 1944 Brooks was recruited to take the army general classification test period his high scores meant he was sent to the army specialized training program at Virginia Military Institute to be taught electrical engineering, horse riding and Saber fighting. In 1944 Brooks was drafted in the Army. 12 weeks later he turned 18 and officially joined the United States army at Fort Dix NJ. Was sent to field artillery replacement training at Fort Sill, OK for basic training, and radio operator training. A reporter for the US Department of Defense wrote that Brooks arrived in France in November of 1944, and later Belgium serving with the 78th Infantry Division as a Forward Artillery Observer. In December of 1944, Brooks was transferred to the 1104th Engineer Combat Battalion as a combat engineer, participating in the Battle of the Bulge. Fast forward to the end of the war, Brooks joined the special services as a comic touring army bases where he made the rank of corporal, and was put in charge of entertainment at Wiesbaden Germany, and later Fort Dix. In June of 1946 Brooks was honorably discharged with the rank of Corporal.
