The "Polar Bears" American North Russian Expedition
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GT.US
N 42° 28.610 W 083° 09.638
17T E 322399 N 4704982
This Historical Marker is at the Arctic Circle of Life Exhibit at the Detroit Zoo
Waymark Code: WM3874
Location: Michigan, United States
Date Posted: 02/24/2008
Views: 49
Dedicated to the American North Russian Expiditionary forces known as the "Polar Bears".
From September 4, 1918 to June 15, 1919 fifty five hundred American soldiers from the 339 Infantry Regiment (with elements of the 310th Engineers and the 337th Ambulance and hospital companies) fought Bolshevic Russian Forces under harsh Arctic conditions near Archangle, Russia. Since most of these soldiers came from Michigan, and of those most were from Detroit, they were known as "Detroit's own Polar Bears". Of the "Polar Bear" Soldiers, 232 dies and 307 were wounded. In 1929, five former "Polar Bears" returned to North Russia to recover the remains of those left behind. They recovered 86 bodies of which 56 were buried around a white marble polar bear sculpture at White Chapel memorial cemetery, Troy Michigan.
Presented by White Chapel Memorial Cemetery and Matthes International Corporation.
Historical Date: 09/04/1918
Historical Name: Polar Bears
Description:
A Bronze marker
Parking nearby?: no
D/T ratings: 
Registered Site #: Not Offical Marker
website: Not listed
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