World War I: Those who served

Soldiers from Battery F of the 56th Coast Artillery Regiment pose for a group photo upon their return from France in early 1919. Many of them were Connecticut National Guardsmen from the New London area who had been called to active duty.

Soldiers from Battery F of the 56th Coast Artillery Regiment pose for a group photo upon their return from France in early 1919. Many of them were Connecticut National Guardsmen from the New London area who had been called to active duty.

Soldiers from Battery F of the 56th Coast Artillery Regiment pose for a group photo upon their return from France in early 1919. Many of them were Connecticut National Guardsmen from the New London area who had been called to active duty.

Capt. Charles Senay was a company commander in the 28th Infantry who was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

PFC Charles K. Stahler of Battery F, 56th Coast Artillery, was wounded in the back at the Battle of Chateau-Thierry.

Private Edward McClure was wounded three times and erroneously reported killed in action. His later life took a dark turn.

Private Louis Zimmerman of the 113th Infantry was wounded in the Argonne Forest.

News of Carl Newbury's death at sea brought sorrow to New London, where he had been an active Boy Scout.

Pilot Schuyler Lee and his comrades took part in a dogfight that brought down three German planes.

Lt. John McGourty went down on the Coast Guard cutter Tampa, the largest American loss of life at sea in the war.

Lt. Walter F. Buck was a talented pilot who hoped for active duty instead of his role training other instructors.

Richard Mansfield II wears his costume from "Old Heidelberg," in which he performed in New London just before he enlisted.

Maj. John Coleman Prince died on a raid over enemy lines 10 days before the war ended. He had been in the Army since 1911.

A Day two-part series on the centennial of the start of World War I drawn from Connecticut military records, the archives of The Day and online sources. On April 6, 1917, the U.S. declared war on the German Empire. The Day's story includes those southeastern Connecticut residents who served.