Huntington Woods in Oakland County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Polar Bears
Photographed By Mike Grobbel
1. Polar bears Marker
From September 4, 1918, to June 15, 1919, fifty-five hundred American Soldiers of the 339th Infantry regiment (with elements of the 310th Engineers and the 337th Ambulance and Hospital Companies) fought Bolshevic Russian forces under harsh Arctic conditions near Archangel, 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 died 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 Matthews International Corporation.
Erected 2001.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Military • War, World I. A significant historical date for this entry is September 4, 1918.
Location. 42° 28.641′ N, 83° 9.656′ W. Marker is in Huntington Woods, Michigan, in Oakland County. Marker can be reached from Woodward Avenue (State Highway 1) near West 10 Mile Road. Marker is
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Rackham Golf Course (approx. 0.2 miles away); Detroit Zoological Park (approx. half a mile away); The History of the Detroit Zoo (approx. 0.6 miles away); Ridge Road (approx. 0.7 miles away); Fred A. Baker House (approx. 0.8 miles away); Royal Oak Woman's Club (approx. 0.8 miles away); Royal Oak Methodist Episcopal Church (approx. 0.9 miles away); Howard & Howard (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Huntington Woods.
Also see . . .
1. Picture of the Polar Bear Monument at White Chapel Cemetery, Troy, MI. (Submitted on December 31, 2008, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.)
2. Polar Bear Soldiers Honored at the Arctic Ring of Life. Article about the dedication ceremony in the December 2001 Detroit Zoological Society Z Mail. (Submitted on July 7, 2021, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)
Photographed By Al Barrera, December 30, 2008
2. "Detroit's Own" Marker
"Detroit's Own" marker at the Michigan's Own military museum in Frankenmuth, Michigan.
Photographed By Al Barrera, December 30, 2008
3. Polar Bear Mascot
Polar bear donated by the city of Detroit to the Regiment in 1930, nicknamed "Sasha", at the Michigan's Own military museum in Frankenmuth, Michigan.
Photographed By Mike Grobbel
4. "Detroit's Own" Polar Bears Memorial,White Chapel Cemetery, Troy, Michigan
This work, by sculptor Leon Hermant, was dedicated on May 30, 1930.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 30, 2022. It was originally submitted on December 5, 2008, by Al Barrera of Brownstown, Michigan. This page has been viewed 2,049 times since then and 17 times this year. Last updated on November 30, 2015, by David Belokonny of Bingham Farms, Michigan. Photos: 1. submitted on December 5, 2008, by Al Barrera of Brownstown, Michigan. 2, 3. submitted on December 31, 2008, by Al Barrera of Brownstown, Michigan. 4. submitted on January 1, 2009, by Al Barrera of Brownstown, Michigan. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
