American fiber helmet

American fiber sun helmet
United States Marine Corps fiber helmets in 2010
Type	Military and civilian helmet
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	1934-present
Used by	United States Armed Forces
Wars	Second Sino-Japanese War, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Invasion of Grenada, Persian Gulf War
Production history
Designer	Jesse Hawley
Manufacturer	Hawley Products Company International Hat Company
Unit cost	$1.36 (1941)[1]

The American fiber helmet (also known as the American pith helmet, safari helmet, tropical helmet, sun helmet, elephant helmet, or pressed fiber helmet) is a type of sun helmet made of pressed fiber material that has been used as part of the military uniform by various branches and units of the United States Armed Forces from 1934 to the present day.^{[2][3][4][5][6]} As of 2017, the helmet continues to be worn by U.S. military rifle range cadres, as an icon for marksmanship excellence.^[6][7][8][9] The helmet is technically not a pith helmet, insofar as it is not constructed from pith material.^[10] However, in the more generic sense of design style, this type of sun helmet is modeled similarly to one and thus often referred to in common use as a pith helmet.^[10] Additionally, the helmet is not a combat helmet, insofar as it was not originally designed to protect the head during combat. However, the helmet was nonetheless assigned, at various times in the 1930s and 1940s, as combat gear for use in active theaters.^[11][12]

The fiber helmet has been used as a commercial hat for civilians, as well as by the military. At various times, the helmet has been used by all branches of the services, including the military police, marine aviators, officer and enlisted ranks, military parades, graduation ceremonies, and combat training. The helmet has most actively been used by the United States Marine Corps, particularly during marksmanship course training.^[2] During World War II, it was issued to all ranks of the Marine service.^[13] As of 2017, it is the longest used helmet in U.S. military history, having been worn by soldiers in the Second Sino-Japanese War, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the United States invasion of Grenada, and the Gulf War.^[2][3]

Despite its longevity of service, the fiber helmet was never given a model name.^[13] It is officially known as "helmet, sun, rigid, fiber." The helmet was originally designed by Jesse Hawley.^[14] It was first manufactured by Hawley Products Company in St. Charles, Illinois, and the International Hat Company in St. Louis, for several decades in the 20th century. In the 1960s, a modified version of the helmet was constructed of plastic molding material, as opposed to the original fibrous construction. However, the design remained consistent otherwise.