The Pink Marine: One Boy's Journey Through Boot Camp To Manhood

4.3/5 ( ratings)

The Pink Marine is the story—full of hilarity and heartbreak—of how a teenage boy who struggles with self-acceptance and doesn’t fit the traditional definition of masculinity finds acceptance and self-worth in Marine Corps boot camp.

"An inspiring memoir that displays a balanced, surprisingly reverent view of the Marine Corps and military service." Kirkus Reviews

When Greg Cope White's best friend tells him he's spending his summer in Marine Corps boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, all Greg hears is 'summer' and 'camp'. Despite dire warnings from his friend, Greg vows to join him in recruit training.

He's eighteen, underweight, he's never run a mile-and he's gay.

Greg's sheltered life hadn't prepared him for military service. A prince out of water, he packed five suitcases since he'd never been away from home for thirteen weeks. The U.S. Marines stripped him from all of that, shaved his head and put a rifle in his hands.

At first he struggles to keep up, and afraid his secret will be discovered. But midway through, the desire to survive and become a Marine trumps fear. He learns that everyone, just like in the real world, comes into the service feeling 'different'; possibly prejudged for the color of their skin, their weight, their poverty--some have even chosen boot camp over jail.

Can a flighty, 112-pound, unmanly Texan transform into one of the few, the proud, the Marines?

Will Greg even survive?

Advanced Praise for The Pink Marine

"A great story beautifully told-surprising, funny, courageous and inspiring." David Hyde Pierce

"Greg is as inspirational as he is hilarious--I love this book!" Margaret Cho, Comedienne

"Marine Corps boot camp was the toughest thing I ever did. I had to cope with being skinny, weak, and timid in a place that demanded strength, confidence, and fearlessness. But I didn't have to cope with being gay or having to hide who I actually was... The Pink Marine is a wonderful book and I'm proud to be Greg Cope White's fellow jarhead." Jim Beaver, Actor/U.S. Marine

"For five years, on a television show called Covert Affairs, I had the privilege of pretending to be a member of the U.S. military. For six years, in the United States Marines, my friend Greg pretended to be straight. He wins. The Pink Marine will inspire you, make you laugh, and remind you of what's important in this life." Christopher Gorham, Actor

"If you're searching for the next great memoir, it's arrived. Greg Cope White's The Pink Marine is both funny and relentlessly honest. If we have any reason to celebrate the imposed silence of President Clinton's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, The Pink Marine is it. If Greg had talked back then, we wouldn't have this book now. The Marines got a great soldier out of it. And we civilians got a great author." Peter MacNichol, Actor