Brush, Mountain Stock No. 74-B-791 ; Snow Broom
A small, handheld brush made of stiff, brown straw folded over and gathered with heavy gauge wire that is shaped and twisted to keep the brush intact and to form a loop at the top. From Quartermaster Supply Catalog, QM Sec.1, p.30: "Brush, mountain, is a stiff brush particularly useful to troops camped on snow. It is used to brush snow and frost from clothing and equipment and to keep the tent floor clean."
The following biography is from DPL: Francis William "Bud" Lovett was born July 9, 1922 in Northampton, Mass. and enlisted in the Army on March 22, 1943 at Fort Devens, Mass. At the time of his enlistment, he was unmarried, had completed one year of college and working as an actor. Lovett joined the 10th Mountain Division at Camp Hale, Colo. and was assigned to the 86th Mountain Infantry, Company D, but later served with various Medical Companies with the 85th Mountain Infantry Regiment. He was also stationed at Camp Swift, Tex. and in Italy. Lovett sustained injury and earned several medals during March-April, 1945 at San Cristoforo and Famaticcia: 2 Bronze Star Medals; American service medal; European, African, Middle Eastern Medal; World War II Victory Medal; Good Conduct Medal; and Combat Medical Badge. Following the war, he obtained an MA in English and served as teacher, headmaster and principal for various schools.