Helmet from convoy local boy’s prized possession

By Mike Ford, The Delphos Herald
Published:  Thursday, July 30, 2009 (7 months, 2 weeks ago)
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Mark Rice, 7, received an Army helmet when a convoy re-enacting a historic drive across the nation to test the early highway system was in Delphos in June.DELPHOS ­— When a convoy of historic military vehicles passed through town, many kids of all ages were  June, amazed at the old jeeps and more.
Mark Rice, 7, of Delphos was one of those who turned out at Jefferson High School to see the convoy and got a special surprise from one of the visitors.
Rice was admiring one of the vehicles when he was tapped on the shoulder by a new friend in camouflage.
“This guy tapped me on the shoulder and gave me an old Army helmet. It’s really cool; they used to catch fish in it and shave in it. He wrote his name and address in it. And you know what it does? It comes apart; the metal plate is to stop bullets and the other part is so you don’t have to put your head where they used to shave in it,” he said.
His mother, Elaine, thinks her son was chosen at random and says a friendship has started.
“We sent him a thank-you letter and he sent back a photo album from his part of the convoy; he didn’t go on the whole thing. He thinks the helmet is from the 1960s or 70s and I don’t know why he did this because he never said but I think he had been looking for just the right little boy to give this helmet to. His name is Randy Bennett and he’s from Huntsburg, Ohio,” she said.
Mark is excited to have the helmet and is as much a military enthusiast as a lot of boys his age. His mom says he lives and breathes camouflage shorts and olive green T-shirts and other Army-style clothing. He also tends to wear the helmet everywhere, no matter what else he’s wearing.
“We went to Pennsylvania and stayed at a motel with a pool. He went swimming and after a few minutes, I could hear him out there with the motel manager on a smoke break — there he was in his swim trunks with the helmet on and he was telling the manager all about it,” she said.
The soon-to-be second-grader at Fort Jennings Elementary School will likely take it to school. His mom said he got a hands-on education when the convoy was in town because he climbed into the back of one of the jeeps.