PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. - The first female Marine Corps general in charge of its tough-as-nails basic training site on Parris Island says she's confident women in the Corps will be able to handle combat.

Whether she was joining the U.S. Marines at age 20 as one of the first women to do so, or adjusting to the changes that a long life brings, Mildred "Millie" Cox always seemed to have fun. "I liked the ...