While not comfortable at all with US troops marching in Red Square, I was hoping they’d at least have a unit with a storied past in WWII that would represent us, i.e. 101st, 82d, etc.
So I was disappointed that the unit representing us was the 170th Inf Bde. Who the heck is that? Looked it up and lo and behold this is what I found:
The 170th Infantry Brigade was first activated 25 August 1917 at Camp Custer, Michigan. as one of two brigades of the 85th Infantry Division, National Army consisting of the 339th and 340th Infantry Regiments.
After a year of training the division left the U.S. for England. When the American Expeditionary Force North Russia was formed to be sent to Arkhangelsk, Russia, the 339th Infantry Regiment provided the infantry component, with support units also taken from the 85th Division sent along as well. While there, the 339th saw combat against the Bolsheviks.
They were sent to secure military stores provided to an ally, Russia, from potentially being used by Germany against the US and other allies. Their commander was not given clear instructions, and the British Ambassador sent them south, where they fought against the Bolshies.
The infantry units were equiped with Mosin-Nagant rifles manufactured by Remington, rather than with Springfields or Enfields used by most of the rest of the Army. That way they could use the ammunition and spares which they were guarding. The Mosin-Nagant can be in the right hands, a very accurate rifle, but has a slower rate of fire than Mauser, Springfield, Enfield or Lee-Enfield. Better than the Lebel though.