US Marine Corps Recruit Depot - Yearbook (Parris Island, SC)

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MARINES LAND AT PARRIS ISLAND After the war, the United States kept a naval presence in the sound, and then in 1885 construction began on Parris Island for a permanent Navy yard. The first Marine activity was established on Parris Island on June 26, 1891, when First Sergeant Richard Donovan, USMC, arrived with a small detachment for duty at the Naval station. The Marines were highly commended for service in preserving life and property during the hurricane and tidal wave that swept over the island in 1893. By 1903, the Naval Station on Parris Island was considered to be too small, and operations were eventually shifted to Charleston, S. C. While the navy was closing its activities, the Marines, in 1909, opened an officers school, and in 191 1 two recruit companies came to the island for training, however before the year was out the schools were transferred and the island was converted into a Naval disciplinary barracks. On November 1, 1915, the area was again turned over to the Marine Corps, and recruit training reestablished. Parris Island has since become famous as a training base of U. S. Marines. During World War I, some 41,000 recruits were trained here. Prior to 1929, all transportation to and from the island was by small boats operating between the Post Docks and Port Royal, South Carolina. In 1929, the water era came to an end with the completion of the Horse Island bridge and causeway. PARRIS ISLAND AT WARTIME LEVELS In August, 1940, recruit training was first organized on a battalion basis. With the coming of World War II, a flood of recruits, as well as new permanent personnel to train them arrived aboard the island. The Base was enlarged to handle 13 recruit battalions, and, between 1941 and 1945, almost 205,000 recruits were trained at Parris Island. At the time of the Japanese surrender, there were more than 20,000 fledgling Marines in training at Parris Island. At the end of the war, the island was reduced to a population low by the rapid demobilization. Prior to the outbreak of the crisis in Korea, there were only two recruit battalions in training. At the start of the Korean Campaign, Parris Is1and's recruit population was barely 2,350. Iron Mike Monument WWI

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served as the site of the cap1tal of Spanish Florida. In 1577 the settlers were driven out by Indians. They returned the following year and rebuilt their homes but in 1586 because of English raids they abandoned Santa Elena and moved to St. In 1663 nearly 100 years after the Spanish had left William Hilton came to Port Royal and visited the remains of the Spanish settlement on Parris Island. Hilton s glowing reports of the area resulted in the English settlement of South Carolina. Parris Island was owned by a number of early colonialists including Alexander Parris the treasurer of South Carolina who purchased the island in 1715. The island s name dates back to him and his daughter and son-1n-law were the first English settlers of Parrls Island. Shortly after the outbreak of the Civil War in Port Royal region was captured by a Federal expedition. Though Parris Island was not actively occupied large military installations were established on Hilton Head and Bay Point Islands and at Beaufort. Among the units serving in the area was a battalion of United States Marines who were stationed on Bay Point Island. Augustine. November, 1861, Parris Island along with the entire Recruit Training Regiment Headquarters ,or N .v . Q. Xxx , Q N., . -' wv e - Www MA ,w.f , .. . V War Memorial Building fwithin a museum! 1 -al- Recruit Receiving .yv Q seg Visitors Center Named for former Senator Paul Douglas

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That figure swelled to a peak load of 24,424 recruits undergoing training in March of 1952. From the outset of the Korean Campaign to the withdrawal of the First Marine Division from Korea, more than 138,000 Marines received their recruit training at Parris Island. In September, 1946, it was decided at Headquarters Marine Corps to reorganize the post at Parris Island in the interests of greater efficiency and economy of personnel and to give it a designation that would reflect its primary mission. At the direction of the Commandant, the Commanding General at Parris Island prepared plans and tables of organization to carry out the change, and after a preparatory transitional period the approved reorganization officially went into effect. On December 1, 1946, the Marine Barracks, Parris Island, became the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island. On May 4, 1956, the Recruit Training Command was organized under the direction of Brigadier General Wallace M. Greene, Jr. In April, 1958, this unit was re-designed the Recruit Training Regiment. It controls all activities dealing with the training of male recruits. Recruit Chapel Receiving Barracks 1' 'l Hostess House aussi