In April 1917 the United States declared war on Germany, and the following month the 15th New York reported to Camp Peekskill, New York, for a short course of rifle training. The regiment was officially mustered into federal service in July and ordered to Camp Whitman, outside of Poughkeepsie, New York, for basic training. It soon became clear to Hayward, however, that the 15th would be held apart from the rest of the army. When the so-called “Rainbow Division,” a collection of National Guard units assembled from more than two dozen states, marched down Fifth Avenue in a farewell parade,