2012-02-21 A Farm Boy Goes to War- A Man Becomes a Bear

PLEASE TAKE PICTURES OF THIS TRAVEL BUG ON ITS JOURNEY.

Track the steps of my Great Grandfather, Sgt. Levi Bartels, WWI Veteran, 339th Infantry, Company K.
Trying to accomplish this task before a duplicate TB - 2012-02-21 A Farm Boy Goes to War- A Man Becomes a Polar Bear

This trackable would like to make it to or as near as possible...

Muskegon, MI - Birthplace
Olive Twp, MI - Residence
Fort Custer, Battle Creek, MI - Military Training
Archangel, Russia - Battles fought
Windsor Castle, Berkshire County, England - received a letter from King George V
Michigan's Own Military Museum, Frankenmuth, MI - some of my great grandfather's military items are here.
Olive Twp Cemetery, MI - Final Resting Place

PLEASE TAKE PICTURES OF THIS TRAVEL BUG ON ITS JOURNEY.

This travel bug is to honor my Great Grandfather, Sgt Levi Baretls, WWI Veteran, 339th Infantry, Company K.

My grandfather, along with many other men from Michigan and Wisconsin were sent to Northern Russia.  They fought alongside the British however, my grandfather did not like the Brits.  Here he is quoted in the book, Quartered in Hell, "I've always said about the British, if there was a war against them, I'd be there tomorrow to fight them.  They treated us like dogs, stayed way behind us and made us do all the fighting.  We were issued sheepskin coats and sleeping bags, but the British took them away from us after 10 days and handed them  out to their own men.  From then on we had only our overcoats to wear."  I've read that the temperatures in Northern Russia reached as low as -60 degrees F. Due to the cold weather, they were known as "Polar Bears"

Despite what the British did or didn't do, that didn't stop Sgt Levi Bartels from being a hero. 
General Headquarters,
Northern Russia Expeditionary Force.
18th March, 1919

By firtue of the authority which has been extended to me by His Britannic Majesty's Government, I hereby have the honour of confirring upon you :-

No. 2981800. Corpl LEVI Bartels, "K" Coy, 339th Infantry, US Army
the "MILITARY MEDAL:
in recognition of your gallant conduct.

The following is the official account of your conduct for which the award has been made :-
"Recommended for bravery in the action South of Kadish in the afternoon of December 30th, 1918.
He rescued a wounded Corporal of Company "E" who was being subjected to terrific enemy machine gun and rifle fire.
He was in the reserve 200 yards behind the line in a fairly protected position, when he volunteered to rescue this wounded Corporal"

I hartily congratulate you upon the honour which has thus been conferred upon you.
Major General.
Commanding-in-Chief, Norther Russia Exped Force.

Get more information on Sgt Levi Bartels
Michigan's Own Military and Space Museum - information about Sgt Levi Bartels
Voices of a Never Ending Dawn - documentary of WWI quoting Sgt Levi Bartels
Quartered in Hell - Sgt Levi Bartels quoted in this book
Information my Father has gathered