Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Parris Island closing rumored
Lowcountry NOW ^ | 19 Oct 04 | Lolita Huckaby

Posted on 10/20/2004 4:11:09 AM PDT by real saxophonist

Parris Island closing rumored

BEAUFORT: According to newspaper reports, some believe training could be handled at Fort Jackson.

By Lolita Huckaby

Carolina Morning News

A media report that Parris Island Marine Corps Recruit Depot could be closed and training operations consolidated at the Army's Fort Jackson in Columbia should be viewed as a red flag, said Beaufort County Council Vice Chairman W.R. "Skeet" Von Harten.

Von Harten, a retired Marine Corps lieutenant colonel, made his remarks Monday during a meeting of the county's Intergovernmental Relations Committee.

He was responding to a story in Sunday's The State newspaper which said the idea had been "offered by a senior (Department of Defense) official," according to a spokesman with a Washington study group, the Lexington Institute.

Relocating Marine Corps recruit training to Fort Jackson was presented as a possible cost savings in the upcoming congressional Base Realignment and Closure talks.

While it's conceivable the two branches could train together, Von Harten said he thinks the different traditions represented by the Marine Corps and Army might pose some problems.

"The bottom line is, this shows anything can happen. Right now, this apparently is only an idea being floated but we must focus our attention on telling the story of our bases in Washington and make sure this is one idea that doesn't get off the ground," Von Harten said.

Von Harten said he'd contacted members of the county's Military Enhancement Committee to reinforce the county's support for their efforts to protect the bases. The council recently allocated $217,000 to the committee for hiring a Washington, D.C.,-based lobbying firm to represent the county's interests in BRAC discussions.

"This is indicative of the new era we're experiencing, without the senior leadership of (the late U.S. Rep.) Floyd Spence or (the late U.S. Sen.) Strom Thurmond," said Beaufort Mayor Bill Rauch, who attended the committee meeting. "Things like this didn't even get discussed when we had their seniority."

In other news, Dick Stewart, chairman of the committee, outlined the idea for a cooperative agreement between the county, the city of Beaufort and the Historic Beaufort Foundation in which the city would begin collecting library impact fees from developers.

Money from the fees would be used to purchase the current city hall on Carteret Street, which the city hopes to eventually replace with a new structure, and the Carnegie Building, at the corner of Carteret and Craven streets for use by the library administrative staff.

Stewart said after the meeting the proposal is still in the discussion stages.

Bluffton Mayor Hank Johnston gave the committee an update on the town's efforts to develop a technology park which is dependent on the availability of federal grants.

Reporter Lolita Huckaby can be reached at 524-5448 or lolita.huckaby@lowcountrynow.com


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: South Carolina
KEYWORDS: brac; marines; parrisisland
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-62 next last
To: rebelyell
Seriously,
I'd heard that at one time the Marine Corps wanted to close MCRD San Diego and consolidate all recruit training at Paris Island. This is a much more realistic proposal than closing PI and moving USMC recruit training on the East Coast to Fort Jackson.
41 posted on 10/20/2004 8:24:36 AM PDT by quadrant
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: real saxophonist

Marines?? Are they the sailors in army uniforms?


42 posted on 10/20/2004 8:29:29 AM PDT by cynicom (<p)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: American Vet Repairman
I have a feeling that some developer is involved behind the scenes.

Bingo. As many already have noted here, the Marine Corps, active and former, will never permit Parris Island to be taken down.

43 posted on 10/20/2004 8:40:38 AM PDT by Bedford Forrest (Roger, Contact, Judy, Out. Fox One. Splash one.<I>)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: Sam Cree

You are correct in saying that the Marine Corps is a Department of the Navy, WE ARE THE MEN'S DEPARTMENT!!!!!

I happen to be a graduate of MCRD San Diego(Hollywood Marine, for those of you not in our esteemed club)and the only way I see Parris Island closing is when the ambient temp in Hell reaches 32 degrees.

Semper Fi.


44 posted on 10/20/2004 8:45:06 AM PDT by sean327 (My new AR-15 hasn't jumped out of the closet and terrorised anyone!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: cynicom

Sailors in Army uniforms? Hardly!

The origins of our beloved Eagle, Globe, and Anchor:

We rescued the Eagle from The Army, Stole the Anchor from the Navy, and on the seventh day while God was resting we overran his perimiter and captured the Globe!!!


45 posted on 10/20/2004 8:56:28 AM PDT by sean327 (My new AR-15 hasn't jumped out of the closet and terrorised anyone!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: real saxophonist

BTTT


46 posted on 10/20/2004 9:07:58 AM PDT by Fiddlstix (This Tagline for sale. (Presented by TagLines R US))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sean327

Sean...I am a failure. I posted that, expecting incoming from all the jarheads and got nothing. Oh well....


47 posted on 10/20/2004 9:13:49 AM PDT by cynicom (<p)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: real saxophonist

No, doesn't need to happen. Spent my basic training at Lackland AFB (like all airmen). Each service is unique with its own mission.
Was stationed on a post once for all services learning language. We did have different classrooms and our time requirements for achieving graduation was different from service to service...maybe based on the average ASVAP scores? Never did know exactly why.


48 posted on 10/20/2004 9:25:22 AM PDT by Mustng959 (In loving memory of those that gave their all to preserve our Freedoms!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cynicom

Don't worry too much about it, Fire mission is being plotted as we speak. Rounds inbound very soon.


49 posted on 10/20/2004 9:32:01 AM PDT by sean327 (My new AR-15 hasn't jumped out of the closet and terrorised anyone!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: leadpenny
I hope that was sarcasm. Because if it wasn't, you need to read more about the Marines. God, I hope this ain't true. Chesty would roll over, sit up and come up out of his grave.

Semper Fi 1976

50 posted on 10/20/2004 5:10:13 PM PDT by Nightshift (Ignorance on your part, doesn't require a reply on my part.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: real saxophonist; 2A Patriot; 2nd amendment mama; 4everontheRight; 77Jimmy; AJ Insider; ...

South Carolina Ping List

Click Here if you want to be added to or removed from this list.

51 posted on 10/21/2004 5:51:15 PM PDT by SC Swamp Fox (Aim small, miss small.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sonofagun

Never happen..If you close PI the mosquitos and sandfleas would starve to death....and the environemntalist wackos won't let that happen..


52 posted on 10/21/2004 5:56:15 PM PDT by ken5050
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: real saxophonist

My parents lived in Beaufort for several years and I went on a "drive through" of Parris Island. It was so awesome just being there. My husband went to Parris Island too when he joined the Marines (got tossed out early on after tearing up his hamstring unfortunately).


53 posted on 10/21/2004 6:07:20 PM PDT by visualops (Get your Viking Kitty patches at http://www.visualops.com/patch.html)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SVTCobra03
We had two 2nd Lt's from CID, posing as transferred recruits in our platoon and they blew the whistle on our DI's.

Man, those CID Lt's were pulling some rough duty if they had to pose as recruits!

54 posted on 10/21/2004 6:08:10 PM PDT by SamAdams76 (Slamma-Lamma...Ding Dong! (Red Sox Win The Pennant!))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: real saxophonist
Folks, don't buy the hype. This has been beat up and down for years. I have never heard MCRD moving to Ft. Jackson (absolutely laughable) I have heard that it could move to the Camp Lejeune/Camp Johnson area. But, the bottom line is that if they ever tried to move MCRD Parris Island, they would have the Marine Corps League to deal with (you could ask Harry Truman if he were living what that is like), along with every former PI Marine that could still hold a K-Bar!
55 posted on 10/21/2004 7:37:07 PM PDT by lt.america (Captain was already taken)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: visualops; celtic gal

I was raised in Beaufort.

Although I was never a Marine, my father went through PI, served in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. (He's a slow learner).

He'll be sad if this turns out to be true.


56 posted on 10/21/2004 7:46:23 PM PDT by null and void (Break the window, John Smallberries. Why ME, John Bigbooty? It might be booby-trapped. Ah! *SMASH*)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]

To: real saxophonist

They floated the rumor that one of the recruit depots would close during the last round of base closures, too. Except that it was MCRD San Diego that was going to close. Why? It's in the way of expanding Lindbergh Field.


57 posted on 10/21/2004 7:48:04 PM PDT by Not A Snowbird (Official RKBA Landscaper and Arborist, Pajama Duchess of Green Leafy Things)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: real saxophonist

bump


58 posted on 10/21/2004 7:48:32 PM PDT by foreverfree
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: leadpenny
the Army and Marines could compete for training results in marksmenship, PT, etc.

What a horrifying thought. There's no similarity at all between Army and Marine Corps training.

59 posted on 10/21/2004 7:48:42 PM PDT by Not A Snowbird (Official RKBA Landscaper and Arborist, Pajama Duchess of Green Leafy Things)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: real saxophonist

Probably floated to cause disquiet in one of Bush's strongholds.


60 posted on 10/21/2004 7:48:45 PM PDT by faithincowboys
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-62 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson