The Soldiers

THE MEN OF THE NORTH RUSSIAN EXPEDITION

Many of the Polar Bears left extensive diaries about their battlefield experiences, thoughts about the Russian wilderness, the hardships they faced, missing home, and their tremendous love for their country. After reading through thousands of pages of these men’s words, director/screenwriter Pamela Peak selected out some of the most moving and heroic accounts of the men’s experiences from the point they first arrived in Northern Russia to the day they were finally welcomed home. Below you will find just a few of the men featured in this film.

Pvt. Godfrey J. Anderson recounts his experiences as a young medic assigned to some of the farthest reaches of the Russian front.  With very little time for medical training before being sent off to war, and at times critically short on medical supplies, this compassionate young man demonstrated an unparalleled caring for his fellow soldiers and their sufferings.

His pride as a soldier and love for his country echoes across the decades through his powerfully written words.

Corporal Clemment A. Grobbel was assigned to a front called The Railroad Front, which saw some of the most horrific action of the entire campaign.

When attacked by a superior force, in order to deliver a more effective fire, Crpl. Grobbel voluntarily left his trench and took up a position on top of a railroad bank. Exposed to heavy machine gun fire, he held his position and fired his Lewis gun until the enemy was repulsed.  His conduct was the determining factor in the successful defense of that position. He was decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross and the Croix de Guerre.His grandson, Mike Grobbel is President of the The Polar Bear Memorial Association. Mike and the large Grobbel family work with Stan Bozich, Director of the Michigan's Own Military and Space Museum, to keep the Polar Bear memory alive.

Sgt. Mick Kenney was an inspirational leader to his men of Company K of the 339th Infantry.  Also assigned to The Railroad Front, his orders were “to take the town of Kodish”.

Kodish saw more action than any other town involved in this unusual conflict. It was recorded that: “The energy and dash of Mick Kenney’s detachment of grenadiers, due to his keenness, bravery and coolness under the most hazardous conditions, was largely responsible for the success of the Allied Force in the attack and capture of Kodish”.

Sadly, Sgt. Kenney did not survive a subsequent battle.  He was killed in action and died on New Year’s Eve of 1918 eight weeks after the  World War I had ended.

Thinking that reports of Mick’s death were a mistake, since the war had already ended, his loving sister Ann Kenney searches for answers, doubting her brother’s reported death.  Her emotions exemplify those of so many relatives who wondered why their sons had not returned home with the rest of the soldiers of WWI.

Sgt. Silver K. Parrish was one of the most admired men of the entire North Russian Expedition.  He was known for his quick decision-making capability under fire, his incredible discipline, and most of all his uncommon courage that placed him far out in front of the pack. One of his most remembered quotes from the battlefield comes from when he was completely outnumbered by 600 Bolsheviks against just 275 Americans. After leading his men to safety, Sgt. Parrish has a brave encounter with a Bolo officer yet he simply describes it in his diary as: “I had an encounter with a Bolo officer and took his sword from him.  He now sleeps.” That sword is on display at The Michigan’s Own Military and Space Museum.

Sgt. Parrish was known for “testing the waters” by purposely drawing the enemy fire so his men could see where the enemy was. He escaped danger repeatedly with such things as “bullets through his sleeve” or a bullet that bounced off his metal helmet. A fabulous soldier, he was also one of the most interesting and colorful characters of the entire expedition.

Lt. Harry Mead of Company A of the 339th Infantry is best remembered for the historic Battle of Nijni Gora that took place in late January of 1919.  With surrounding allied forces also coming under simultaneous attack, Lt. Mead is left alone with his 45 men in the town of Nijni Gora, hopelessly out-numbered by a force of 800 Bolos. The Bolos were camouflaged in white as they suddenly “rose out of the snow as one man”.  Lt. Mead manages to get his men out of the town Nijni Gora, but then finds that his only choice is to deliver one of the most painful orders he ever had to deliver to his men.

Miraculously Harry and seven of his brave men survived that day.  While he returned to Detroit to live a long life, at his request, he is buried right next to his men who did not survive the horrific battle of Nijni Gora. They are buried at the foot of the Polar Bear Monument at White Chapel Memorial Cemetery in Troy, Michigan.

Corporal John Toornman epitomizes the youthful spirit of our fighting men in Northern Russia or in any campaign.  Known to be the one to “always keep the boys laughing”, Cprl. Toornman’s first battle experience at The Battle of Pinega drives home the tragedy our  young military men and women are called to face on a daily basis.

Corporal Toornman witnesses the death of two of his best buddies Pvt. Clarance Malm and Pvt. Jay Pitts from his hometown of Kalamazoo.  He vows to bring their belongings “home to their parents to let them know how bravely they died in Kopogora.” The emotion of this moving soldier’s account is brilliantly portrayed by actor Tim Shaw in Voices of a Never Ending Dawn.

Sgt. Simon Davis was one of the twenty-five Kentucky soldiers who, for some unknown reason, were selected to go with the Detroit and Michigan area Polar Bears sent to Northern Russia in 1918. Although he felt like a “duck out of water”, and was one of the very few southerners, Sgt. Davis spoke out. He became one of the loudest voices of truth as he wrote about and recorded everything he experienced in his daily diary entries.

Holding nothing back, Sgt. Davis spoke truthfully about the British and how they treated our American soldiers; he spoke truthfully about the severe lack of medical supplies shipped to Northern Russia while the British officers never failed to remember whiskey supplies for their continual partying up at headquarters, while American boys were dying out on the front. His detailed account of the entire expedition gives us an in-depth look into the hearts and minds of all our American soldiers who suffered so severely in this conflict. Sgt. Davis is a refreshing voice of humanity and truth in the story of The Polar Bears.

THE ROMANCE OF COMPANY "A"

Dorothea York was a young woman from Detroit who was in love with one of the Polar Bear’s from Company A of the 339th Infantry.  As Company A saw the more battlefield action of any other Company in the entire expedition, Dorothea dedicated five years of her life to writing an exact account of the experiences of Company A both on and off the battlefield. Her work is a stunning, accurate and poetic description of these men’s experiences.  Dorothea's words are included throughout the documentary film and help to tell in vivid detail all that the men of Company A endured and experienced over their ten long months in Northern Russia.

Dorothea York never married the Polar Bear she loved. Rather, records show that the poetic young woman we meet through her book “The Romance of Company A”, had moved to San Diego, California to be with relatives, and died single at 83 years of age in San Diego.