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From: wetcw@pyuxa.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: US armed force in Russia in 1920's
Message-ID: <1173@pyuxa.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 5-Apr-85 09:57:11 EST
Article-I.D.: pyuxa.1173
Posted: Fri Apr  5 09:57:11 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 7-Apr-85 10:02:21 EST
References: <314@ssc-bee.UUCP> <567@whuxl.UUCP> <921@ihuxk.UUCP>, <572@whuxl.UUCP>
Organization: Bell Communications Research, Piscataway N.J.
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In reference to US troops in Russia in the 1920s, yes we did
send an expedition.  It was not, however, to combat the Red
Menace.  The force was sent, along with units from
France, England, Finland, China, Japan, and a few others I
don't recall, to protect and defend the Trans-Siberian
railroad from being destroyed by either the Whites or
the Reds.  There were 11 countries involved in the
incident.  Since the US had made a major contribution
to the building of the railroad, and since it was
seen as one of the most important rail links in the
world, all of these countries had a stake in its
preservation.  The US contingent was stationed in the
Lake Biakal region on the edge of the Siberian wastes.
Other countries were stationed all along the right
of way to Port McArthur (Vladivostok).  

I knew an old gentleman in our town who, as a
young shavetail, was stationed in Irkutsk during
this time.  I believe the unit we sent was the
21st Infantry Division.  The political and military
ramifications of this adventure were enormous. 
Both the reds and whites used the railroad to
move back and forth.  They both used huge
armoured trains with all sorts of guns bristling
out of them.

For an interesting story, read a book called
"Eleven Flags", a historical account in fictionalized
form.
T. C. Wheeler