William Bryden was a career officer in the United States Army. A veteran of the Philippine–American War, Pancho Villa Expedition, World War I, and World War II, he attained the rank of major general and was three-time recipient of the Army Distinguished Service Medal. Bryden was best known for his assignment to several senior command positions, including the 15th Field Artillery Brigade (1918), 9th Field Artillery Brigade (1918–1919), 16th Infantry Brigade and Fort George G. Meade (1937–1938), 13th Field Artillery Brigade and Fort Bragg (1938–1940), Deputy Chief of Staff of the United States Army (1940–1942), Fourth Corps Area (1942), Fourth Service Command (1942–1944), and president of the Secretary of War´s Separation Board (1944–1946).

Niantic is a census-designated place (CDP) and village in the town of East Lyme, Connecticut in the United States. The population was 3,114 at the 2010 census. It is located on Long Island Sound, the Millstone Nuclear Power Plant in nearby Waterford is visible on the bay's eastern horizon line, Rocky Neck State Park is also located in the area. Niantic was once famous for its Niantic River scallops, but the scallop population has been in decline for a number of years.