We were recently offered two dark red hats resembling the stereotypic fez
with black tassel on top. The potential donor informs us that these were
acquired by her late husband when he was a GI during World War II. One hat
is embroidered with a butah (paisley) pattern in very pale green and yellow.
The second hat is decorated only with an inscription: "1945 M.U. [the man's
initials] Strakonice Czechoslovakia". Are these the simple souvenirs they
appear to be, or have they some greater significance? Does anyone know why
a GI might have acquired a fez shaped hat in Czechoslovakia?