Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Parris Island, South Carolina, bears the name of Alexander Parris, a prominent American militia leader during the Revolutionary War who resided on the island in 1776.
The island's location at the entrance to Port Royal Sound made it militarily vital—a natural harbor with a defensible position controlling access to the inland waterways.
In recognition of Parris's role and the island's strategic value, the U.S. government formally named it "Parris Island" in his honor.
In 1891, the United States Marine Corps established the Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) there. It became the primary training base for enlisted Marines (East Coast). Over a million Marines have trained on its sands, forging an indelible link between the name "Parris Island" and the forging of United States Marines.
Today, the name symbolizes both a Revolutionary War patriot and the crucible of Marine Corps discipline, endurance, and esprit de corps.