Michigan's WW1 Centennial News Report March 2019

The American North Russia Expeditionary Force (A.N.R.E.F.) was made of of Michigan men who were in the 85th Division. They trained at Camp Custer and were sent to England where they were chosen to go to the Russian town of Archangel in September of 1918. Their purpose was to guard supplies the Allies had given to the Russians to fight the Germans. In September of 1918, the supplies were gone and their new purpose was to help the Czech Legions cross Russia on the Trans-Siberian Railroad. They were too far away from the Czech Legion so they tried under British command to control the Archangel region. During the winter months 1918-19, the Red Russians attacked and the brave men of the A.N.R.E.F. had to fight for their lives.
The Great War end in November and many of the soldiers and their relatives were asking why they were still fighting. They were eventually relieved by the British and were able to come home in July of 1919 to Detroit. They called themselves the "Polar Bears" and on Memorial Day at 11am they still have a Memorial Service at the White Chapel Cemetery in Troy,Mi.