Long Island and World War I

Nassau and Suffolk Counties answered the call to service during the First World War. As young men entered the armed forces, existing facilities such as Camp Mills and Hazelhurst Field were expanded, while Camp Upton, a massive training center, was created almost overnight. Long Islanders demonstrated enthusiastic support for the war through patriotic rallies, subscriptions to Liberty and Victory Loan drives and establishing recreation centers for troops called soldiers’ clubs. While Long Island factories turned out torpedoes, freighters and clothing, the Island’s vibrant agricultural sector contributed significantly to the nation’s food supplies. Author and historian Richard Welch explores the impact of the Great War on Long Island.