I remember reading the same thing Dave T posted, patent granted February 45. 

UNITED STATES US MII Diaphragm  US M1A2-IVAI-IXAI US M1A1 Gasmask US M2A1 Gasmask US M2A2-IVAI-IXAI US M3 Diaphragm mask US Navy MK III US Navy MK IV US Army Class B Gray Optical gasmask US Navy MK V x2 US Army M2-10A1-6 Optical mask x3 US CDV-800 civilian (E51R15-11-22-R1) gasmask US CDV-805 US CDV-800 US M9A1 X4 US ABC M15 Compressed Air Breathing Apparatus US M13 Hospital protector  US M13A1 Hospital Protector US M14 Tank Crew Respirator US M14A1 Tank Crew Respirator US M142 Tank Crew Respirator x2 US M24 Aircraft Respirator US M25 Tank Crew Respirator US M25A1 Tank Crew Respirator x4 US M17 US M17A1  US M17A2 US XM28E4 Gasmask US MBU 13/P US MBU 19/P US M42 US M42A1 US M42A2 US M48 Gasmask US M45 Gasmask x3 US MCU 2/P x6 MSA, SCOTT GERMANY GM30 GM38 M65 M2000 BRITISH GSRe Poland RSC French Battery Acid Hood   This list will be updated whenever I can

Hello all,   Fresh in from Mr. Hardy. Will post more later in a thread. This vet was in RVN from 1969-1971 and was CCS 2nd Exploitation Co (listed also in Recon Co in Col. Lindsey’s book). He then went to Recon Co in CCN in June 1970 with RT Idaho as the 1-1. Around September, he was sent to RT Alaska.    Graduated 1-0 school in June 1969 and is one of about a dozen SOG men to go to sniper school in-country. Everything comes with documentation, and photos of the vet holding each item. The Tiger stripe headband is phenomenal and there are photos of him wearing it overseas.   He later joined the 1st Commandos of the Rhodesian Light Infantry and then the 32nd Battalion Commandoes of the South African Defense Forces.

Here are photographs of both Navy and Army silver stars in my collection. In the third photo you can see the difference in thickness.

Hello, I recently picked with what I think is a "CBI" pilot wing.  I personally have never seen this pattern before. Really well made. Lightweight. I assess as Indian made.  Hallmark is "925" with an English style hook.  The 'wing tops' on this wing resemble an eagle profile.  I have several Indian made wings and Pakistani wings in my collection, and I really think these are Indian made.  Any comments and opinions welcome.  cheers!

I would personally call this cap Wartime/ww2

Highers routinely looked the other way even outside combat in the early years. During WWII, standards were poorly enforced even Stateside in garrison, as the brass recognized that many personnel were drafted and there were other things to focus on. Countless wartime photos exist in the States of Marines wearing non-regulation insignias and uniform items.   Likewise, during the interwar years, it was not unusual to find out-of-regs insignias, particularly trenching, among seagoing Marines and those posted at overseas legations, even outside of combat. Again, countless period photos exist of these practices, as well.   While discipline and regulations have always been important, the rabid adherence and enforcement of uniform regulations and other disciplines to the extent we know today really came about heavily during the Vietnam era, when boot camp was shortened and these methods were used as a way to teach and enforce discipline due to abridged training pipelines. 

Thanks for the help guys, there are quite a few nice patches and helmet decals there. I'll post them once I pick them up which will most likely be tomorrow. 

My only guess as to what is on the skunk's head is an oddly rendered gray field hat turned sideways with the bill curled up?

I believe the patent number was granted and included on the sweatband as Feb 45. Wartime.  There used to be a great thread here on the forum with posts from the grandson ( ? ) of the Bancroft founder.