339th Infantry Regiment
| 339th Infantry Regiment | |
|---|---|
|
Men of the 339th Infantry during the Polar Bear Expedition. | |
| Active | 1918 - ? |
| Country |
 United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Engagements | |
The 339th Infantry Regiment was drafted in June 1918, for the purpose of fighting in France. Most of the 4,487 men were from Michigan, but some 500 draftees from Wisconsin were included. It was commonly referred to as "Detroits Own". They were sent to fight the Bolsheviks in Northern Russia.[1]
The journey to Archangel went via England, where they were outfitted with English winter equipment. Only after leaving England, were the men told of their destination. Spanish Influenza broke out on two of the three transports, and seventy-two men would eventually succumb to the disease or resultant pneumonia.[1]
The 339th was later reactivated to serve in the European theater of World War II, fighting in Italy from 1942 to 1945.[2]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Rhodes, Benjamin D. (1988). The Anglo-American Winter War with Russia, 1918-1919, Greenwood Press, Inc. Connecticut, USA ISBN 0-313-26132-6.
- ↑ "339th Infantry in World War II". Retrieved 25 December 2013.