MARINE COPRS RECRUIT DEPOT PARRIS ISLAND/EASTERN RECRUITING REGION, S.C.-- -- The Depot suffered a loss when a former Marine and long-time volunteer at the Parris Island Museum passed away Sept. 6 at the Savannah Memorial Hospital from injuries sustained from a fall she took on the steps in front of the Depot post office the day before.
Retired Chief Warrant Officer 2 Phyllis M. Alexander, 78, of Beaufort, was transported via Life Flight Helicopter to Savannah for treatment following her accident. She died there the next day.
Alexander served the Depot in several capacities, according to Dr. Stephen Wise, museum curator. She not only volunteered at the museum, but also served on the Historical Society's Board of Directors and managed their gift shop. Alexander also took on other projects, behind the scenes.
"Phyllis did a lot of things on her own that had nothing to do with the museum or the historical society," said Wise. "She'd take people out and show them around. She acted, in a sense, as a greeter for the base. What was great about Phyllis was we could give her things that we didn't necessarily have much time to do and she could do them. She was always more than willing to go the extra mile. No task was ever too large or too small for her."
For the museum alone, Alexander helped collect display material, worked with photographs, assisted people who came in to do research and much more, according to Wise.
Alexander had had a distinguished military career, helping define women's roles in shaping the Marine Corps of today. She enlisted during the Korean War in February 1951 and graduated recruit training in March of that same year. She served as one of the first female drill instructors aboard the Depot from November 1966 to February 1971. Although, women did not actually teach drill at that time, she filled the billet in every other capacity. While serving on active duty, Alexander was not only witness to several significant changes to women's role in the Corps, but also an active contributor.
After such an extensive history with the Depot and the Corps, saying she will be missed by those who knew her is an understatement.
"It's definitely a tremendous blow," said Wise. "She was very dedicated to helping people. She was a rare individual in relation to the dedication and time she put in here. Those kinds of people are hard to find. She was greatly loved and she's going to be greatly missed."
Alexander, who worked aboard the Depot for more than 10 years, was buried at Beaufort National Cemetery Sept. 9.