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Polar Bear Expedition Digital Archival Collection Main Menu Introduction Context Timeline Map All Archive Items Resources Selected additional resources for further information and research.

Letter from McKenzie to Coffin, April 14, 1948

25325 This letter is the guidance requested by Congressman Coffin upon his acceptance of the speaking invitation at the 1948 reunion. In it, Mackenzie describes polar bears as “probably the first organized anti-communist group in the united states” as a result of their service in Russia. The letter also contains information about troop deployment in 1918, as well as on-the-ground conditions the soldiers fought in. Mackenzie specifically asks in the letter that Congressman Coffin address the state of Communism today in the United States.

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Map Angela Schöpke
Contents of this tag:
1. Dedication to John L. Dalian (Jack) - Commander of Polar Bear Post 436 (typed)
2. Passport, Michael Macalla [Page 8]
3. Roster, 339th Infantry, Group 145, July 6, 1919
4. "Quoth the Russian: 'Harashaw'" poem, by R.S. (reprint from American Sentinel, Dec.31, 1918) & "Ode to the Shackleton Boot" by E.J.H. (American Sentinel, Dec.24, 1918) The first page is a reprint of a poem written by R.S., originally published in the American Sentinel (a weekly journal “DEVOTED TO. The defense of American Institutions, the preservation of the United States Constitution as it is, so far as regards religion or religious tests, and the maintenance of human rights both civil and religious.”). The poem describes what seems to be the author’s experience on the Russian Bakaritza shore requesting that a boatman row him across a body of water as quickly as possible in order that he may make his meeting. The boatman does not assist him and repeats the phrase “Harashaw”. The poem ends with R.S. pushing the boatman, rowing away himself, and looking back on the boatman cleaning himself of mud. This poem seems to make some statement about U.S.-Russian relations, or perhaps a soldier’s relationship with Russians at the time of the poem’s writing. The second page is a reprint of a poem written by E.J.H., originally published in the American Sentinel. The poem describes what seems to be a metaphor for the author’s stumbling search through the snows of Russia for some promised but elusive treasure (“Shackleton boot”)of some kind. The poem concludes with a sense of desperation and disillusionment that the treasure does not exist.
5. Speech for dedication of the Polar Bear Room
6. Newspaper article, includes photographs This is an article with photographs originally published in The Democrat and Chronicle Sunday Magazine. The article reflects on what it was like for American soldiers in Russia at the time of the Polar Bear Expedition, discussing daily life (food, prices of goods, entertainment, cultural interactions among Expedition members, other Allied troop members, and Russians), the unfolding of the Expedition’s work (begun as railroad work in support of the Russians’ railroad system, but turned into violent altercations with Bolsheviks that tried to use the railway for their own purposes - reflection that perhaps the Bolsheviks sought to draw Germans into their territory to defeat them). The article finishes with a reflection on the idea that the Expedition is often forgotten as having taken place.
7. Port of Embarkation letter for Michael Leavey This is a letter from Sergeant Michael Leavey at an overseas port to Mrs. Frank Peters in Elizabeth, New Jersey. This letter describes Leavey’s safe arrival at the port and provides detailed information about how Mrs. Peters may contact Leavey while he is overseas. He explains that the news and media adre not to be trusted with regards to information about how he is doing (i.e. whether he is alive or dead), rather the War Department would be in touch immediately in the event of any incident of concern to his life.
8. Inscription on PB memorial in White Chapel Cemetery
9. Petition for withdrawal of troops from Russia This is a petition submitted to U.S. Congress requesting the withdrawal of all U.S. soldiers from the country of North Russia, and their return to the authority of their own officers. This petition was made under the sentiment that the Archangel expedition was “an ambiguous, intolerable, and entirely un-American situation in which death is the least among many evils.” Signors include soldiers wives and other community members with relationship to the soldiers remaining unclear.
10. Telegram
11. Passport, Michael Macalla [Page 14]
12. Membership cards for the Polar Bear Association
13. "Identified Polar Bear bodies to be interred at White Chapel Memorial Park"
14. President’s Introductory Remarks at Memorial Day Exercises at White Chapel Cemetery, May 30, 1949
15. Passport, Michael Macalla
16. Letter from King George
17. Passport, Michael Macalla [Page 11]
18. Passport, Michael Macalla [Page 6]
19. Passport, Michael Macalla [Page 12]
20. Notice for advertising/tribute in reunion program
21. Passport, Michael Macalla [Page 13]
22. Write-up about the Michigan Commission to Russia in 1929 by Macalla This is a document that describes the Michigan Commission to Russia in 1929’s activities. The document specifies the group’s purpose - to locate, exhume, return, and rebury the remaining bodies left in Russia following the Polar Bear Expedition - and the group’s members - Gilber T. Shilson, Manager of the Associated Press Bureau of Lansing; Roy Derham of Iron Mountain, Michigan; Walter Dundon, President of the Polar Bear Association; John C. Evans, Vice President of the Union Guardian Trust Company in Detroit; Michael J. Macalla of the City Treasurers’ Office in Detroit. The document also describes the commission’s geographical trajectory, beginning with Detroit, moving then through Bremen, Germany; Berlin, Germany; Koenigsburg, Germany; Smolensk, USSR; Moscow, USSR; Archangel, USSR. Additional sections describe the trip in greater detail, including how many bodies were returned by the mission (84 identified, 2 unidentified of the 200 that were initially remaining in Archangel), how body identifications took place, where bodies were reburied (30 at family plots, 54 at White Chapel Cemetery), and ongoing memorial services.
23. Letter from Coffin to McKenzie, April 12, 1948
24. Passport, Michael Macalla [Page 9]
25. Passport, Michael Macalla [Page 3]
26. Minutes, meeting of Committee on Polar Bear Post Burial Plot Neatly typed minutes for the meeting of the Committee on Polar Bear Post Burial Plot from October 14, 1955. The minutes are signed by M.J. Macalla, D.C. Shand, B. Kowalski, and C. T. Sleep. The minutes themselves are numbered 1-10 and announce, among other things, that “Plot to be known as Polar Bear Post #436, VFW Plot,” (1) as well as, “After much discussion it was decided that sale of lots should be restricted to single lots to members of Polar Bear Post until such time after a real effort to sell as many single lots is made in order to have as many post members benefit as possible.” (5)
27. 1930 Reunion Announcement
28. 30th anniversary program for Polar Bear Post 436 The program for the 30th anniversary of Polar Bear Post 436. In his “Commander’s Message,” Alonzo Portlance commends “thirty solid years of loyalty, comradship [sic] and service”. In addition to a schedule of events (Group Picture, Dinner and Entertainment, Dancing in Ballroom), the program lists members of the Polar Bear Post as well as the Polar Bear Association, and a message from Don Shand, President of the Polar Bear Association.
29. Passport, Michael Macalla [Page 10]
30. Passport, Michael Macalla [Page 5]
31. American cemeteries brochure
32. Letter to Mrs. William A. Schulz from Macalla This is a letter notifying the next of a kin of a deceased Polar Bear soldier, and to “call attention to certain benefits which are available to you as the widow of a veteran.” Includes breakdown of widow pensions, including coverage for any children. There is also a sum available through Wayne County to help cover funeral costs. Finally, the letter mentions social security benefits from the federal government that the widow should look into on behalf of the deceased.
33. Polar Bear Bulletin, v.1, no.7 Oct.1, 1929 This is a bulletin written by H.J. Reimold (Commander) and Arnold Gynac (Adjutant) from the Polar Bear Post describing events and current activities of the Polar Bear Post. The bulletin discusses a meeting at which Comrades Even and Macalla were expected to provide updates about the repatriation effort. Five members of the commission tasked with repatriating the bodies are named: Shilson, Derham, Evans, Macalla, and Dundon. The Graves Registration Service is also named as the body responsible for preparing bodies for shipment back to the U.S. Insights are also given about how one of the bodies was located (with the assistance of a Russian nurse). September 28, 1929 is noted as a date that a shipment of 28 bodies left Russia for the U.S. The document also discusses Polar Bear Post membership recruitment and fundraising activities in support of an orphanage.
34. Passport, Michael Macalla [Page 7]
35. Blueprint of plaque to the Polar Bear Room
36. Letter from McKenzie to Howard A. Coffin, April 5, 1948
37. Tickets (?)
38. Announcement, memorial service
39. Dedication to John L. Dalian (Jack) - Commander of Polar Bear Post 436 (handwritten) A handwritten draft of the same dedication described above. The text is written on a piece of lined notebook paper in all capital letters. At the top of the paper is a rough drawing that sort of resembles a headstone, with an image of a cross at either side. Inside the drawing is the text: “IN HONORED MEMORY OF JOHN J. DALIAN (JACK)”. Several numbers also appear inside the drawing but it isn’t clear what they refer to.
40. Constitution & bylaws of Polar Bear Post A typed manuscript of the constitution and by-laws for Polar Bear Post 436. On the second page, “Polar Bear Post 436” has been scratched out and the name “Victor C. Vaughan Post” hand-written in its place. There are a few other handwritten emendations throughout the manuscript. The constitution lays out the Objects of the Post (“patriotic, historial [sic] and educational”), types of Membership (Active, Associate, Honorary, etc.), and related information.
41. Passport, Michael Macalla [Page 2]
42. Letter from McKenzie to Coffin, April 14, 1948 This letter is the guidance requested by Congressman Coffin upon his acceptance of the speaking invitation at the 1948 reunion. In it, Mackenzie describes polar bears as “probably the first organized anti-communist group in the united states” as a result of their service in Russia. The letter also contains information about troop deployment in 1918, as well as on-the-ground conditions the soldiers fought in. Mackenzie specifically asks in the letter that Congressman Coffin address the state of Communism today in the United States.
43. Caption to photograph "S.S. Stuttgart sails" (photograph not in original)
44. Letter from Thaddeus M. Skowronski to Macalla re: Albin Olechowski estate This series of letters details correspondence between Thaddeus Skowronski, a Polish lawyer in Detroit, and with Michael Macalla. The first document concerns the translation and notice of death given to next of kin, Lucja Olechowska. Because the next of kin is located in Warsaw, Poland, the translation services of an international lawyer are required. The second document is a notice of empowerment, translated into polish, that empowers Thaddeus Skowronski to act as liason for the United States Army in these affairs. The third document and fourth document in the series provides power of attorney to Thaddeus Skowronski. The fifth document in the series is a form-based notice of death, which contained a description of benefits and cash allotments for differents aspects of the funeral to be paid by the United States Army, notifying the next-of-kin of the benefits to which they were entitled.
45. Drawing of map of Russia identifying body locations
46. Passport, Michael Macalla [Page 4]
47. Reception invitation to William A. Rogell, July 13, 1951
48. 1948 Reunion Announcement An official letter from Michael Macalla in his role as Secretary for the Polar Bear Reunion Committee to surviving Polar Bears. The letter announces the date and location of the 1948 Polar Bear Reunion. It also lists various items from the upcoming program, including a banquet, grand ball, and business session. “Get outa [sic] that rocking chair and throw away your canes and crutches,” the letter urges, “or bring them along if the need be, and start preparing to attend one of the best reunions yet.”
49. Letter to Polar Bear Association from Streng
50. Postcard to McKenzie, re: Polar Bear reunion
51. Letter from McKenzie to Eugene I. Van Antwerp
52. Invitation to the Armed Forces Day parade, May 16, 1950
53. Letter appointing Macalla to Michigan Commission to recover bodies
54. Letter from Fred Green, May 26, 1930