Investigation underway after 26-year-old Marine dies at Parris Island
A 26-year-old U.S. Marine has died at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in Port Royal, but few details were released about the circumstances.
On Thursday, Sgt. Cameron Thach, was found dead aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, the Marines said Friday afternoon.
Thach, of Elmore, Ala., was an operational contract support specialist assigned to the Regional Contracting Office (RCO), Headquarters and Service Battalion. RCOs are responsible for acquiring goods, services and construction to support military installations and operations.
Thach’s cause of death is under investigation, the Marines said. It’s premature to speculate on the circumstances at this time, Chief Warrant Officer Bobby Yarbrough, a Marines spokesperson, said.
“Out of respect for the Marine’s family and loved ones, no additional details will be released at this time,” the Marines said in a statement. “The Marine Corps extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends, and fellow Marines affected by this loss.”
Who was Marine Sgt. Cameron Thach?
Thach joined the Marines in 2017. During his service, he earned the National Defense Service, Good Conduct and the Global War on Terrorism Service medals.
He is survived by his wife.
About 20,000 enlisted recruits train to be Marines each year at the 8,000-acre island base in Port Royal, one of two bases in the country where recruits train to become Marines. The other is Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego
Other Marines who died at Parris Island
Thach’s death brings the number of Marines who have died at Parris Island since 2021 to at least nine.
Others have died by suicide or were killed in training-related incidents. In some cases the Marines did not release specific causes.
A spate of deaths was reported at the base in 2023, according to Beaufort Gazette and Island Packet archives.
- Sgt. Yliana Hernandez, a 25-year-old water survival instructor from Volusia, Fla., was found dead at her residence.
- Cpl. Angel Acosta III, was found dead at his residence on Lady’s Island.
- Staff. Sgt Courtland Bateswind, 27, a drill instructor assigned to Echo Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, was found deceased at his residence aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island.
- Marshall Hartman of Michigan died just a few days after arriving at the Recruit Depot in what the Marines described as a non-training incident.
- Noah Evans, a 21-year-old from Decatur, Georgia, died during a physical fitness test.
At least three Marines died at Parris Island in 2021.
- In 2021, 21-year-old Pvt. Anthony Muñoz, of Lawrence, Mass., died after falling from a balcony in an “apparent suicide,” MCRD Parris Island officials previously told the Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette.
- Pfc. Brandon Barnish, 26, was found dead at the training depot. Barnish, from Evans, Georgia, had graduated from Parris Island with the Delta Company on May 14 and was recovering from an injury before continuing with the next step of training, a Parris Island spokesperson said. A cause of death was not identified.
- Pfc. Dalton Beals, 19, of Pennsville, New Jersey, died during the Crucible, the final training event before recruits become Marines. Staff Sgt. Steven Smiley was charged with negligent homicide in Beals’ death but was found not guilty following a July trial.
