Written by Justun Dorsey, Education and Outreach Coordinator
Greg Cope White at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, in 1981.
Liam Oh as Ray McAffey (left) and Miles Heizer (right) as Cameron Cope in Episode 102 of Boots.
Stories about military life often focus on the unity of servicemembers through bravery, sacrifice, and teamwork on the battlefield, at times overlooking the differences between individuals and how sometimes the most powerful acts of courage start with the decision to live authentically in a world that does not always make that easy. In October 2025, Netflix released a new series titled Boots. Based off the book, The Pink Marine by Greg Cope White, viewers gain insight into the life of White, whose trek from a frightened recruit to a confident man offers a unique perspective on military service and personal identity.
Boots follows Cameron Cope, a gay teenager from Louisiana, who enlists in the U.S. Marine Corps alongside his best friend, Ray McAffey. Unbeknownst to him, he soon discovers that the world he has entered demands far more than he expected. Over time, he and his fellow recruits found another version of themselves that they did not know existed. Set in the early 1990s, when being gay in the military was still illegal, the series portrays the grit, humor, and heart of boot camp, while also sharing the personal battles that often go unseen.
The show’s foundation lies in Greg Cope White’s 2016 memoir, The Pink Marine: One Boy’s Journey Through Boot Camp to Manhood. White’s book tells his real-life story of joining the Marines as a closeted gay man in the late 1970s, when homosexuality could lead to immediate expulsion or worse. He originally enlisted on a dare from a friend, but what began as a test of endurance turned into a journey of transformation.
Best friends who inspired the characters, Cameron and Ray, in the Netflix series “Boots.” Dale Kiker (left), who inspired Ray, and Greg Cope White (right), who inspired Cameron.
Greg Cope White: The Man Behind the Story
Greg Cope White grew up moving from place to place, never quite fitting in. At the age of 18, restless and uncertain about his future, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps alongside his best friend, Dale Kiker. By his own admission, he was not the typical recruit. He was small, unathletic, and terrified that others would find out he was gay.
At that time, long before the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy of 1994, gay service members faced harsh consequences if their identity was discovered. They could be discharged, subjected to violence, and even face imprisonment. For White, joining the Marines meant entering one of the most masculine and rigid environments imaginable while concealing a core part of who he was.
Despite those challenges, White endured and succeeded. He completed boot camp, served six years and rose to the rank of sergeant before leaving due in large part to the toll of living in secret. Perhaps most importantly, he found self-respect. As he later wrote, “I learned I could do hard things. I learned I could stand shoulder to shoulder with anyone.”
The Book and The Show
The Pink Marine blends humor, vulnerability, and honesty to tell White’s coming-of-age story in an environment not known for kindness or compassion. The memoir begins with his decision to enlist and follows his intense experience at boot camp, where he learns to survive both physically and emotionally.
White’s writing captures the contradiction of military life: brutal training paired with deep camaraderie. He describes the fear of being outed, the pressure to prove himself, and the transformation that happens when you refuse to give up. His fellow recruits become both rivals and unexpected allies, and through shared hardship, he begins to feel a sense of belonging for the first time.
Marine Corps veteran, Greg Cope White, authored the memoir “The Pink Marine” about his experience at boot camp. He’s pictured here holding his U.S. Marine Corps photo.
While Boots takes creative liberties, it stays true to the themes of The Pink Marine. The series shifts the time period and expands the story to show a broader picture of Marine Corps life. While the names and events are fictionalized, the emotional truth remains grounded in White’s experience.
Greg Cope White serves as an executive producer and consultant for the series, alongside other Veterans, ensuring that the heart of the story remains authentic.
Greg Cope White’s Continuing Impact
After leaving the service, White built a career in Hollywood as a writer and producer, working on shows like Designing Women and The Tick. Yet, the story that stayed with him most was not one from the writer’s room, but rather his own experience. He wrote The Pink Marine to honor that experience and to offer hope to others who might feel like they do not belong.
In interviews, he explained that his purpose in writing the book was simple: “… to send a message to others who are bullied: Bullies don’t matter. You do. Hold on.”
White continues to write, speak, and advocate for understanding and acceptance. He often encourages young people, especially those who feel out of place, to take chances on themselves. “The Marines taught me discipline,” he once said, “but they also taught me that I could do anything if I worked for it.”
Bringing The Pink Marine to life on screen through Boots is more than entertaining, it is educational. It highlights an important part of the U.S. military and LGBTQ+ history, showing what life was like for some service members before policies like Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and the official permittance of gay servicemembers in 2011.
These stories encourage empathy and understanding. They show that the military, like any institution, is made up of individuals, each with their own stories, challenges, and dreams. By exploring what it meant to serve in silence, Boots opens discussions about progress, diversity, and the meaning of honor.
‘The Pink Marine’ author Greg Cope White (left) and actor Miles Heizer (right), who plays Cameron Cope.
Sources:
First Photo: Courtesy Greg Cope White
Second Photo: Courtesy Alfonso “Pompo” Bresciani/Netflix
Third Photo: Courtesy Greg Cope White
Fourth Photo: Courtesy Greg Cope White
Fifth Photo: Courtesy Patti Perret/Netflix
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