CAPTURED, BLOOD-STAINED JAPANESE HELMET WITH PRESENTATION

CAPTURED, BLOOD-STAINED JAPANESE HELMET WITH PRESENTATION
A rather gruesome blood-soaked Japanese helmet taken by an American Marine and presented to him in Japanese, most likely by a Japanese P.O.W. or perhaps even the wounded soldier himself. The standard green-painted army helmet bears an original liner and cotton cord ties. The liner and several of the 'fingers' within are heavily stained with blood (as it so chemically tests), and the inside of the helmet bears traces of blood as well. The lack of any bullet or shrapnel damage to the shell indicates that its unfortunate owner was likely struck in the lower part of his head or neck, and he bled into the helmet one he had fallen. The helmet was then embellished with Japanese characters painted in red enamel. Above the star at front is written: 'BRAVE LOYAL', the left side reads: EVERLASTING GOOD FORTUNE IN WAR', and the right side reads: 'GREAT EAST ASIA WAR'. The rear of the helmet bears small letters reading: 'Presented [to] George Liptak' (spelled phonetically), a guard, or perhaps even the man who shot the helmet's owner. The helmet bears a vert light speckling of white paint, clearly from being in proximity to a careless house painter, else likely easily restored. A telling relic of the brutal South Pacific campaigns.