Return military item to deceased soldier's family

Dear Friends,

My name is Hugo Booth. I am eighteen years old. I live in Guernsey in the British Channel Islands and the aim of this gofundme is to raise enough money to travel to the USA to return a personal military item to its rightful owners.

As a military enthusiast, I was very happy to acquire a Vietnam-era M1 helmet in a charity auction here in Guernsey and it wasn’t until after I got it home, that I realised that it bore the name of the young man who once wore it. On the front of the Kevlar insert is graffiti which reads ‘Rupp’. On the back is the peace sign and the words ‘vote Nixon’. My research revealed that several men with the name Rupp served in the Vietnam war, but PFC Jeffrey Rupp served in the 101st Airborne and this helmet has the distinctive Airborne chinstrap. Sadly, Rupp was severely injured six weeks into his tour near the Cambodian border in January 1969. He died of his wounds on a hospital ship five days later at the age of twenty. Tragically, Rupp’s family were notified of his death on the same day they received his last letter. I hope to soon locate his family, who I believe are from Wisconsin

Another interesting fact about this helmet is that it once belonged to the Hollywood star Oliver Reed, who gave it to one of his friends here in Guernsey. The helmet then ended up in a local charity shop which is where I found it. I am still researching how Rupp’s helmet travelled seven thousand miles from a battlefield in Vietnam to a charity shop in Guernsey via a Hollywood star, but I feel that now is the time to give the helmet to Rupp’s family. I am just a temporary custodian, and I would like to take it home to the family who love him still. I feel it is important that myself and my father go to America to give them Jeffrey’s helmet personally.

In order to do this I need to travel from Guernsey to the USA with my father. I would like to raise £5000 for our trip and I would be very grateful for any help you can give. Any surplus funds not necessary for our travel and accommodation will be divided between the Purple Heart Foundation and the Vietnam Veterans of America.

With sincere thanks,

Hugo Booth