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

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K The navy turned back the Parris Island facilities to the Marine Corps on November 1, 1915, and the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, then stationed at Norfolk, Virginia, moved back to the island, Parris Island has remained in the hands of the United States Marine Corps from that day to the present time. The Government took over the entire island in 1917, and utilized the facilities to train our Marines for World War I. Rediscovering the Old Fort , In 1923, the site of old Charles Fort underwent a careful excavation and most of the stout cedar stockade was found to be still in existence. Such pieces as 5-inch cannon balls and rusted, handwrought iron spikes were found' to add to the island's ancient Indian relics. With much of the ancient fort exposed, photographs were taken, and the area carefully covered over again with sand. Concrete pillars were set to give the corner markers of the fort and the area converted into an attractive park. Prior to 1929, all transportation to and from the island was by way of small boats which operated between the post docks and Port Royal. In that year the Horse Island Bridge and causeways were completed to end the era of Water transportation. The latter additions of the Battery Creek Bridge and the out-going side of the Horse Island Bridge have made for easy access to the island. Construction Changes During 1929 through 1931 economy was the watchword and expansion was curtailed. In 1937, however, existing Main Station barracks were torn down for the construction of the present day brick barracks. Recruit training on a battalion basis was not introduced until August 1940. With the or- ganization of the First Battalion on August 6th came in quick succession the formation of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Battalions. The intake skyrocketed after Pearl Harbor with 5,272 recruits arriving during that fateful December alone. A record 9,206 arrivals was set in January assthe 9th and 10th Battalions were added to the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Battalions. As the War influx continued, five of the existing battalions were sent to New River, North Carolina to train: then the 11th, 12th and 13th Battalions Were activated. Slowdown Commences The eventual cutback started in 1944 when the 12th and 13th Battalions were disbanded. In September, with the intake reduced to 1,556, the 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th Recruit Battalions were deactivated. Towards the end of 1945, Battalions 5 and 6 were finally dis- banded. Between 1941 and 1945 a total of 204,509 recruits were trained at Parris Island. At the time of the Japanese surrender, the island housed 20,000 recruits, the largest number in the history of the Recruit Depot. War's Aftermath After World War II the depot was staggered by one of history's most rapid demobiliza- tions. At one time prior to the outbreak in Korea, only two recruit battalions were in op- eration. In December, 1946, the organization of the Post was revised and the oflicial designation became Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island. Activities on the island began to take a sharp increase in the summer of 1950 when a large number of reserves reported for active duty along with the recruits. Battalions were re-established gradually to handle the increase and in February, 1951, the 7th Battalion was reactivated for the first time since August, 1944. The 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, which formerly trained women marines, was deac- tivated as such on 1 May 1945. On 21 September 1955, the first Women Marine Training Battalion was organized. This is the only female training battalion in existence in the Marine Corps today. Recruit Training Command On 4 May 1956 the Recruit Training Command was organized under the direction of Brig. General Wallace M. Greene, Jr. This command is under the administrative control of the Commanding General of the Depot. 5

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P ARRIS ISLAND, home of basic training for today's Marines east of the Mississippi, has had a long and colorful history. Although the first Marine Corps activity on the island was in June, 1891, the story of its occupancy by the white man reaches back into anti- quity for over three centuries. Located off the South Carolina coast, Parris Island is midway between Charleston, S. C. and Savannah, Ga., opposite Port Royal, S. C. This flat, sandy piece of land covers an area of approximately 8400 acres and it's covered with the verdure of the semi-tropics. Coming of the White Man The first attempt of the white people to settle within the present bounds of South Caro- lina took place on Parris Island. Probably the first white man to discover the island was Velaquez de Ayllon, a Spaniard in search of slaves and gold. De Ayllon landed in 1526, named the island St. Helena, and claimed it for Spain. Fifty years later the French Hu- guenots, intent on planting a colony, landed at Parris Island. Jean Ribaut and his Huguenot friends left France for America on February 18, 1562, and after a hazardous two months at sea, reached Parris Island, Ribaut built Charles Fort fArx Carolinaj, named for Charles IX, King of France, on the southeastern itip of the island. Here he left the 26 men he hoped would form the nucleus of a colony and returned to France. First Map Drawn Historians are indebted to one member of this expendition in particular. He was a car- tographer named Lenoyne, a man of considerable ability, who drew a map of the region. The map firmly establishes that Charles Fort was located on Parris Island.4In the office of the present day Commanding General are photographic copies of this ancient map and its legend in translation. Charles Fort, long abandoned, was rediscovered in 1663 by William Hilton of Barbados while exploring the newly chartered province of Carolina. A title to the island was established in 1700. In the year 1698, the Lords Proprietors of South Carolina made a grant to Major Robert Daniell in the extent of 48,000 acres. Par- ris Island was among the lands selected by Major Daniell, and the grant certificate, dated june 14, 1700 is still preserved. Property Changes Hands Before the end of the year in 1700, Port Royal Island, as it was then known, became the property of Edward Archer. In 1715, the public treasurer of South Carolina, Alexander Parris, secured title to the island. The present day name of Parris Island dates back to this ownership. Down through the years Charles Fort became obscured by a dense growth of trees and underbrush, and the island itself became the site of seven plantations. At one time a row of slave huts stood near the site of the ancient Fort. In 1861, during the War Between the States, a fleet of Federal vessels anchored off Port Royal, bombarded and captured Fort Beauregard and Fort Walker on Bay Point and Hil- ton Head. Marines and seamen held the Forts and surrounding territory until relieved by the forces of General Sherman. Shipping Center In olden days the harbor of Port Royal was used extensively as a shipping point for foreign and coastwise shipping. It was such a fine natural harbor that the entire United States Fleet rode at anchor there in 1874. The Marines landed on June 26, 1891. On that day First Sergeant Richard Donovan, USMC, and a small detachment of Marines were posted on Parris Island for duty with the Naval Station. This Marine Corps post rendered outstanding service in preserving life and property during the hurricane and tidal wave disaster of 1893. The unit was again com- mended for heroic action during the severe storms of 1898. . Training School Set Up The first Marine Corps school started on the island was the Officers school that was established in 1909. Two years later a small recruit depot was set up, only to be trans- ferred later to Norfolk, Virginia, and to Charleston, South Carolina. The buildings that were built for the Marine Corps on Parris Island then reverted to the Navy for use as Naval Disciplinary Barracks.

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ROM their original departing stations, railway passenger train service ends for the re- cruits in nearby Yemassee, S. C. Here Marines from the Receiv- ing Barracks meet each train and take charge of all arriving re- cruits. A short Walk from the train depot brings the recruit to the Receiving Station Where he be- gins his checking in. According to the time of arrival in Yemas- see, the recruit may spend the night in the receiving Barracks or go directly to Parris Island by bus.