VETERANS PRESS: A Marine before her time — the story of PFC Marilyn Closson

Serving in the Marine Corps from 1959 to 1961, Marilyn Closson navigated strict expectations for women, segregation and military life — with humor, courage and a spirit all her own. 

Marilyn (Skeate) Closson grew up in the small farming community of Colfax, Wash. As she recalls, "My mom enlisted me." Marilyn's older brother, Dennis, was serving successfully in the Marine Corps. Her mother believed this would offer her daughter similar opportunities. 

Like many young women of her generation, Marilyn dreamed of finding a husband, raising children and having a house with a white picket fence. Before those dreams could unfold, she stepped into a world governed by strict expectations for women. 

Boot camp lasted six weeks, followed by four weeks of secretarial school. Women Marines made up only about 2% of the Corps, and their daily lives reflected the social expectations of the era. 

Even while off duty, women were required to wear dresses at least 3 inches below the knee. Pants were never permitted. White bras, white undergarments, slips and matching girdles were required 24/7/365. Hair, makeup, posture and appearance were carefully monitored. The WWII standard for Marine lipstick was a shade named “Montezuma Red.” It was required to be worn for formal occasions and inspections. Women were not trained with weapons and were discouraged from physical activities such as running, swimming and jumping. “They said it was bad for female organs,” she says. Marriage or pregnancy resulted in a swift discharge. 

Marilyn remembers these years with remarkable clarity — and often with laughter. She recalls boarding a segregated bus in Virginia without realizing that Black passengers were expected to sit in the back. Having grown up in eastern Washington, she had never encountered such a thing. She and a friend walked to the back and sat down beside the Black women. With a few smiles, they were almost immediately acquainted. When the driver ordered the white women to move to the front, Marilyn said, “Let’s go, girls.” They all left the bus. 

She also laughs when remembering receiving two weeks of extra duty after a Captain pinched her butt and said, “I can tell you’re not wearing a girdle.” With a twinkle in her eye she says, “Well, I never wore the white undergarments either. Mine were ecru!” Time transformed what was once an uncomfortable experience into one of her favorite Marine Corps stories. 

She went on to get married, have four children and work in a glass factory in New Jersey. She returned to Spokane in 1986 and worked as a manager for an inventory company until she retired. 

Today, Marilyn describes herself with a smile as "blatantly outspoken." It is a fitting description for a woman who quietly challenged segregation, questioned expectations and emerged from the Corps with her dignity, humor and pride intact.

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Corporal Renee Raidt, USMC 1988-1992, resides in Colville, Wash.