From a 1950s issue of Popular Mechanics:
Searching for persons or objects in total darkness poses no problems for soldiers wearing sniperscopes. Clamped to a helmet, the equipment combines an infrared light source and an electronic telescope. Its energy comes from a power pack and battery which can be carried in a knapsack on the operator’s back.
Early Night Vision Goggles (Aug, 1950) [ModernMechanix.com]
Looks pretty much like what is in use today, except for the size, of course… and the tie!