William R. Mielke Papers, 1918-1919

Abstract

William R. Mielke was born on July 30, 1894 in Warren, Mich. and died on May 12, 1981. He is buried in Lewiston Cemetary in Lewiston, Montmorency County, Mich. As a 23 year old farmer, he enlisted in the United States Army and served in Archangel, Russia as private in Co. I, 339th Infantry as part of the U.S. Polar Bear Expedition. Collection includes service records (enlistment record and honorable discharge), digital photograph of Mielke's grave marker, and digitized images of the diary he kept while in the service. The diary details his unit's movements from training at Camp Custer to England and on to Russia. Entries detail patrols, combat experiences, and living conditions among soldiers during the expedition.