History of the World War : An authentic narrative of the world's greatest war

A vivid portrait of a forgotten front, this work follows the 339th Infantry—later known as the “Polar Bears”—as they leave the familiar trenches of France for the frozen forests of northern Russia. The narrative captures the jarring shift from a world war’s end to an ambiguous clash against Bolshevik forces, detailing how rifle fire stripped leaves from trees and how soldiers wrestled with sub‑zero temperatures, endless darkness, and an uncertain mission. Personal recollections from veterans, woven with official reports and contemporary newspaper accounts, give the campaign a human scale that brings the Arctic’s harsh reality to life.

Beyond the combat, the book explores the growing strain on morale as weeks turned into months with no homeward promise, and families back in the United States pressed for their return. It also sheds light on the political controversy that surrounded the undeclared Russian intervention, showing how the expedition became a flashpoint for debate in Washington. The story ends with the troops’ eventual withdrawal and their symbolic adoption of the polar bear, a reminder of endurance amid chaos.