Helmet, M1, Fixed Loops, Brig. Gen. Louis J. 'Gun- powder Lou' Fortier, Artillery Commander, 94th Infantry Division, ETO
€7,450.00
Tax included
Extremely rare genuine WWII US Army M1 helmet, front rim seam and fixed loops, manufactured by McCord, shell number 437B. Found in Germany, it belonged to Brigadier General Louis J. "Gun-powder Lou" Fortier, Artillery Commander, 94th Infantry Division.
Original canvas chinstrap with brass buckle and hook; mention Louis J. Fortier - Brig. Gen. - O-6621 has been written on the inner side of the left part of the chinstrap.
The 94th Infantry Division insignia and a single star indicating the rank of Brigadier General have been hand-painted on the front, while mention Louis J. Fortier - Brig. Gen. - O-6621 is visible on the inner surface of the shell.
Comes along with its liner manufactured by International Molded Plastics, Inc., retaining its khaki cotton webbing suspension and neckband, leather sweatband, and OD-painted A washers. The outer surface has been entirely covered with a layer of bright red paint, which may be a reference to the traditional color of the artillery.
Truly amazing homogeneous set, in very good overall condition.
Louis Joseph Fortier was born on April 8, 1892 in Gretna, Louisiana. He deployed to France as an artillery officer during the Great War and served as Artillery Commander of the 94th Infantry Division in the next conflict, prior to joining MacArthur's staff in the Korean War. He passed away on November 6, 1974.
Bottling up of the Nazi holdout garrisons at Lorient and St. Nazaire, breaching of the main Siegfried Line, establishment of a bridgehead over the Saar River and a thrust to the Rhine are outstanding in the battle record of the 94th Division. In Lorient and St. Nazaire were 60,000 Nazis and first action of the 94th in September, 1944, was the investment of these submarine ports which were well protected by flak guns and concrete emplacements. The 94th covered 450 (airline) miles of front and the two pockets were effectively prevented from joining or breaking out. During the 94th’s 111 combat days in Brittany, it liberated Blain, trained and equipped 29 French infantry battalions. The division moved in January, 1945, to an area along the Moselle River southeast of the city of Luxembourg. Before them was the Siegfried Switch Line thrown up by the Nazis to protect the “bulge” and to act as buffer to the main Siegfried Line east of the Saar River.
https://fr.findagrave.com/memorial/47350648/louis-joseph-fortier
Illustration documents available in digital format only.
Military Career of Brig. Gen. Louis Joseph Fortier
Louis Joseph Fortier (8 April 1892 – 6 November 1974) was a Brigadier General in the U.S. Army whose remarkable career spanned both World Wars, the Cold War, and the Korean War. He also played a key role in the development of the modern U.S. intelligence services.
World War I
Fortier served as an artillery officer in France, notably during the Battle of Belleau Wood with the 17th Field Artillery Regiment of the 2nd Division.
Interwar Years
In 1919, he helped establish the ROTC program at Auburn University and went on to pursue advanced military studies at Fort Leavenworth, the U.S. Army War College, and the French War College in Paris.
World War II
-
From 1939 to 1941, Fortier served as a U.S. military attaché in Yugoslavia, Greece, and Bulgaria.
-
In April 1941, he risked his life negotiating a halt to the bombing of Belgrade, an action that earned him the U.S. Distinguished Service Medal.
-
Later, he commanded the artillery of the 94th Infantry Division in Europe, participating in major operations across France, Germany, and Czechoslovakia.
-
In June 1945, he briefly assumed command of the entire 94th Division.
Intelligence and Diplomatic Contributions
-
In December 1941, Fortier was appointed head of the Joint Intelligence Committee, delivering strategic analysis directly to Gen. George C. Marshall.
-
After the war, he was a U.S. representative on the United Nations Military Staff Committee (1945–1946).
-
He played a central role in establishing the Central Intelligence Group (CIG), precursor to the CIA, and chaired the Fortier Board, which laid the foundation for the Office of Special Operations.
Honors and Awards
Fortier received numerous decorations from the U.S. and allied nations, including:
-
U.S. Distinguished Service Medal
-
Legion of Merit
-
Bronze Star Medal
-
French Legion of Honor
-
French Croix de Guerre
-
Order of Karageorge (Yugoslavia)
-
Military decorations from Greece, Belgium, and Czechoslovakia
Further Reading
His son, Louis Renshaw Fortier, authored a memoir titled Before the Fields of Crosses, which gives a personal account of the Fortier family's life in Europe before and during World War II.
Related Resource
A lecture about Brig. Gen. Fortier's service during WWII is available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SBoKlnR0Fs&t=3253s
You might also like
Extremely rare genuine WWII US Army M1 helmet, front rim seam and fixed loops, manufactured by McCord, shell number 437B. Found in Germany, it belonged to Brigadier General Louis J. "Gun-powder Lou" Fortier, Artillery Commander, 94th Infantry Division.
Original canvas chinstrap with brass buckle and hook; mention Louis J. Fortier - Brig. Gen. - O-6621 has been written on the inner side of the left part of the chinstrap.
The 94th Infantry Division insignia and a single star indicating the rank of Brigadier General have been hand-painted on the front, while mention Louis J. Fortier - Brig. Gen. - O-6621 is visible on the inner surface of the shell.
Comes along with its liner manufactured by International Molded Plastics, Inc., retaining its khaki cotton webbing suspension and neckband, leather sweatband, and OD-painted A washers. The outer surface has been entirely covered with a layer of bright red paint, which may be a reference to the traditional color of the artillery.
Truly amazing homogeneous set, in very good overall condition.
Louis Joseph Fortier was born on April 8, 1892 in Gretna, Louisiana. He deployed to France as an artillery officer during the Great War and served as Artillery Commander of the 94th Infantry Division in the next conflict, prior to joining MacArthur's staff in the Korean War. He passed away on November 6, 1974.
Bottling up of the Nazi holdout garrisons at Lorient and St. Nazaire, breaching of the main Siegfried Line, establishment of a bridgehead over the Saar River and a thrust to the Rhine are outstanding in the battle record of the 94th Division. In Lorient and St. Nazaire were 60,000 Nazis and first action of the 94th in September, 1944, was the investment of these submarine ports which were well protected by flak guns and concrete emplacements. The 94th covered 450 (airline) miles of front and the two pockets were effectively prevented from joining or breaking out. During the 94th’s 111 combat days in Brittany, it liberated Blain, trained and equipped 29 French infantry battalions. The division moved in January, 1945, to an area along the Moselle River southeast of the city of Luxembourg. Before them was the Siegfried Switch Line thrown up by the Nazis to protect the “bulge” and to act as buffer to the main Siegfried Line east of the Saar River.
https://fr.findagrave.com/memorial/47350648/louis-joseph-fortier
Illustration documents available in digital format only.