    |
|
|
|
|
At first glance, you may think me the inveterate bon vivant (which I am) and not the man in camouflage who can command troops and hit a target five hundred yards away with an M16 (which I can do).
Back when I was a skinny, insecure eighteen-year-old, I enlisted in (um, I cheated to pass the physical) the pre-DADT United States Marine Corps. To be honest, I had no idea what I was doing joining the toughest branch of our armed forces. I even lied on the enlistment papers about my sexuality. I had to; being gay in the military was illegal. Out was not in.
I wasn't planning on having my private life exposed in this hyper-masculine military world. I got to boot camp burdened by the secret of being gay. Talk about camouflage! Midway through the thirteen weeks of recruit training, the struggle to survive and become a Marine trumped my fear of being found out.
In fact, my platoon was full of wild characters -- including other recruits and drill instructors. Everyone came in with some feeling of being different. I served with guys who had been pre-judged for the color of their skin, for their weight, for their socio-economic status. The battle for acceptance is waged on many fronts.
I wrote this book of Marine Corps boot camp stories to chronicle my mishaps and adventures during my time in service, to celebrate those lean green fighting machine Marines with whom I served, and to give some form of hope to those struggling with acceptance. I am proof that we can do anything we want to, with training and dedication. And a sense of humor. Kirkus Reviews informs readers that his book is "a coming of age story." I enjoy speaking to the Young Adult and Contemporary reading audiences at his live events, on television and radio shows, and in correspondence.
Today, I write and produce movies and television. Host a show on Food Network, How did I go from serving in the USMC to serving up pie on television? The Marines make everything possible.
Back when I was a skinny, insecure eighteen-year-old, I enlisted in (um, I cheated to pass the physical) the pre-DADT United States Marine Corps. To be honest, I had no idea what I was doing joining the toughest branch of our armed forces. I even lied on the enlistment papers about my sexuality. I had to; being gay in the military was illegal. Out was not in.
I wasn't planning on having my private life exposed in this hyper-masculine military world. I got to boot camp burdened by the secret of being gay. Talk about camouflage! Midway through the thirteen weeks of recruit training, the struggle to survive and become a Marine trumped my fear of being found out.
In fact, my platoon was full of wild characters -- including other recruits and drill instructors. Everyone came in with some feeling of being different. I served with guys who had been pre-judged for the color of their skin, for their weight, for their socio-economic status. The battle for acceptance is waged on many fronts.
I wrote this book of Marine Corps boot camp stories to chronicle my mishaps and adventures during my time in service, to celebrate those lean green fighting machine Marines with whom I served, and to give some form of hope to those struggling with acceptance. I am proof that we can do anything we want to, with training and dedication. And a sense of humor. Kirkus Reviews informs readers that his book is "a coming of age story." I enjoy speaking to the Young Adult and Contemporary reading audiences at his live events, on television and radio shows, and in correspondence.
Today, I write and produce movies and television. Host a show on Food Network, How did I go from serving in the USMC to serving up pie on television? The Marines make everything possible.
People are talking about The Pink Marine...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ABOUT GREG COPE WHITE
Author, blogger, television writer, actor, world traveler, and inveterate bon vivant, Greg Cope White is a former sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps, now battling it out online and on television.
He served six years in the Marines, achieving the rank of sergeant. Truly a glutton for punishment, he went on to complete Officer Candidate School over the course of two summers after boot camp—effectively completing basic training three times. Read more... A SAMPLING OF INTERVIEWSFormer TMZ host Brian McDaniel chats with Greg on a recent episode of Obviously
Greg joins mega-watt bright host Krys Boyd on NPR to discuss The Pink Marine. Click here to listen...
|
|
