| Weasel | 19 Jun 2016 5:32 p.m. PST |
The First World War and the Russian Civil War are long passions of mine and the American expeditionary force sent to Archangel in Russia in 1918 has been in my mind ever since I read the fantastic "When Hell Froze Over". To those that don't know, in the fall of 1918, as Russia had dropped out of the first world war to fight a brutal civil war, American troops were sent to the Northwest of Russia, ostensibly to guard allied supply depots from falling into German hands. However, the men of the 339th Infantry regiment and their various attached troops (including a Canadian artillery battery) ended up in a fight for their survival. Stuck in a foreign land, in freezing weather, battling an enemy they barely understood, while suffering from the Spanish flu, issued weapons they had received no training in, these men fought exceptionally hard but would ultimately be largely forgotten. Except in Michigan, where the White Chapel Cemetary has a little memorial to their sacrifices.
Some 10 years after the fact, an agreement was made with the Russians, permitting as many of the fallen remains as could be found, to be recovered for burial in their home land. Why Michigan? The majority of the men were from Michigan, many of them from Detroit.
We visited the memorial today and snapped a few pictures for you all.
One of the burial markers. No family relation, we took pictures of a few. Brave men.
The plate at the base of the statue.
The kid and…er.. must be a fat hairy bum we found in the park. Okay, nevermind, its me.
Up close.
A WW1 helmet and cross at the feet of the polar bear. I hope you enjoy the photos.
Please keep the thread free of political garbage. |
| Buckeye AKA Darryl | 19 Jun 2016 5:39 p.m. PST |
This deserves a +1…thank you for sharing the pics! |
| Wackmole9 | 19 Jun 2016 6:05 p.m. PST |
I second the +1 and thanks you. |
79thPA  | 19 Jun 2016 6:11 p.m. PST |
Cool local history sites … thanks for sharing. And yes, it is a good book. |
| Grignotage | 19 Jun 2016 6:12 p.m. PST |
Great pics! Thanks for posting. |
| Weasel | 19 Jun 2016 6:46 p.m. PST |
Thanks :-) Glad you enjoyed them. |
| charared | 19 Jun 2016 7:07 p.m. PST |
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| mghFond | 19 Jun 2016 8:16 p.m. PST |
I read that book years ago and it was a good read. Thanks for posting the pics! |
| rmaker | 19 Jun 2016 8:21 p.m. PST |
Why Michigan? The 339th was a Michigan National Guard outfit. Chosen because they would be better acclimated to the climate. A unit from the UP would have been a better choice. |
| TheWhiteDog | 19 Jun 2016 8:27 p.m. PST |
Thanks for posting these! I've been meaning to stop and see it for some time, but I rarely pass near there any longer. Glad I at least get to see it this way. |
| Grelber | 19 Jun 2016 8:57 p.m. PST |
Great information. I could be wrong, but I think the Moisin-Nagant rifles that hit the market several years ago were manufactured here in the USA for our Imperial Russian allies, but never delivered due to the revolution, and used to equip US troops in Russia. Another place this hasn't been forgotten is the old Soviet Union. Back in the mid-80s, USAF had a team going around the country visiting Air Force bases and giving the Soviet side of the Cold War story. All those years later, when we barely remembered the expedition, they were still actively in a snit about it! Grelber |
| Weasel | 19 Jun 2016 9:31 p.m. PST |
Grelber is correct on the Nagant rifles. |
| Glengarry5 | 20 Jun 2016 1:47 a.m. PST |
Good to see the 339th Polar bears getting some recognition!
Thanks for posting. |
 ColCampbell | 20 Jun 2016 6:42 a.m. PST |
There is a lot more about this expedition on-line: link I have a co-worker who had a great-something or another relative involved in this expedition. He has some memorabilia from him. Jim |
| troopwo | 20 Jun 2016 6:45 a.m. PST |
Extra merit points for stopping and finding a war memorial at a cemetary in the heart of Detroit. Do you live nearby or just going through?
Detroit is chock full of odd history . |
| Weasel | 20 Jun 2016 7:00 a.m. PST |
We live in Grand Rapids now.
It's some distance outside Detroit, not in the city proper. Area is gorgeous though, even the chapel is very nice looking. |
| Turbo Dog | 20 Jun 2016 9:22 a.m. PST |
I am proud to say that my great grandfather was a polar bear. |
| Weasel | 20 Jun 2016 9:50 a.m. PST |
Turbo – What was his name, if you don't mind me asking? |
| hocklermp5 | 20 Jun 2016 1:32 p.m. PST |
"Ignorant Armies" is another good book on the subject. |
| Weasel | 20 Jun 2016 1:41 p.m. PST |
Hockler – That's actually the same book but under the original title, I believe. :) |
| Blutarski | 21 Jun 2016 5:45 a.m. PST |
On a related note –
Back in 1973, while visiting Fort Lauderdale FL for a weekend to attend my cousin's wedding, I bumped into a rather elderly gentleman with whom I had a most fascinating chat. He had been a lieutenant in the USN during WW1. Afte the cessation of hostilities with Germany, he was assigned to the US contingent participating in the anti-Bolshevik Entente intervention in Russia. As he told the story, he was landed at Murmansk and spent the next two years traversing the entirety of Russia, travelling by train, troika, car, sled and foot until he reached Vladivostok, where he was picked up by a US armored cruiser. Being rather emaciated from his ordeals, the captain threw open the ship's galley to him and told him to eat whatever he desired. The first thing he consumed was a glass of cold milk; I thought that was rather poignant for some reason. A very interesting man. I am sorry I cannot recall his name. B |
's first experience with 1:4800 scale naval models.
