Captain William R. Rush served as the commandant of the Boston Navy Yard during World War I but maintained strong ties to Hawaii. His wife, formerly Jennie Hare of Honolulu, hosted a picnic for Hawaiian naval militiamen serving aboard the U.S.S. St. Louis, symbolizing the ongoing connection and support between Hawaii’s wartime volunteers and their home territory. While not a combat commander in the islands, Captain Rush’s support network helped bridge the distance between Hawaii’s servicemen and their families.
