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February 2023
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The average age of a United States Marine Corps recruit is 21. When Paul Douglas enlisted in 1942, he left behind his wife, his child, and his career and reported to the Parris Island Marine Corps Recruit Depot in South Carolina at the ripe age of 50.
Even though thousands of visitors have walked the halls of the Douglas Visitors' Center, very few know the story of the man behind the name, who became the oldest recruit in the history of Parris Island.
Born in 1892, Douglas embarked on a career as an economics professor, teaching at various universities across America from 1916 to 1942. In 1939, he ran for the Chicago City Council and won.