As I kid I remember going to the Bay County Historical Museum and
they had a little display about a group of soldiers from Michigan
that went to Russia during the Russian Revolution.  These guys
ended up fighting the Reds and are the only American unit to have
officially fought the Communist Russians.  Of course there may have
been some unofficial engagements during the Cold War, but this isn't
about that.

In the summer of 1918, the U.S. Army's 85th Division, which was made
up of 5000 men mostly from Michigan and Wisconsin was shipped to the 
Russian port of Archangel.  They arrived in Russia in early September
and they joined an international force commanded by the British.  They
were issued an assortment of Russian, American and British gear.

The area they arrived in was completely stripped of any resources and
the unit was poorly equipped as it was.  President Wilson had a policy
of non-intervention in the Russian Revolution but was finally
pressured by the British and French Governments.  He later regretted
this decision.

These men were trained at Fort Custer near Battle Creek Michigan.  A
good chunk of the unit came from Detroit.  They were not really
prepared for the harsh conditions of northern Russia.

The unit saw some heavy fighting and eventually came home in the summer
of 1919 (well after other units had returned from WWI).  I'm not sure
how many were killed and wounded.

Anyways, here is my figure for it....




Here are some links to more detailed accounts:
Detroit News Article
Some Information at University of Michigan
A really good article at the Michigan History Magazine

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