Netflix’s Military Dramedy ‘Boots’ Is TV Gold That Was Inspired By A True Story

When Greg Cope White and his best friend enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, they were two young kids about to embark on the journey of a lifetime. Boot camp would turn these boys into men, and though it was a challenging time, it was also laden with adventures and new friendships that would last a lifetime (once a Marine, always a Marine).

With the support of his mentor, the legendary writer-producer Norman Lear, White would turn their adventures into a memoir, which would then be adapted for television. The result is the Netflix military dramedy Boots, which premiered on October 9 to rave reviews from critics and early viewers.

Based on White’s 2016 memoir, “The Pink Marine,” the eight-episode series is one of the streamer’s best originals in years. It’s the ultimate underdog, coming-of-age story of friendship, brotherhood, and finding one’s place in the world.

In a sit-down interview before the show’s premiere, White discussed the gravity of what it means to be a Marine and the brotherhood that’s formed during the 13 weeks of boot camp. “Marines are trained to commit the most egregious act that we’re raised not to commit, which is murder. And we have to be able to do it without hesitation to defend our country.”

At the time he decided to write his memoir, White said he was motivated by numerous stories that had come to light about teenagers who had committed suicide because they were bullied for being gay.

“It made me think of the hell that I went through in boot camp and how difficult it was to survive that, but I just kept putting one boot in front of the other. I knew that it would hopefully get better, but when you’re in it, it’s awful. I remembered my time as a young person searching for books and television shows for any sign that I might be okay,” confided White. “That’s when I decided I’d write it as a book first, so there’d be something on the shelves if someone needed to find validation for the way they were feeling.”

White, who had to hide the fact he was gay, was a Marine in the 1980s, at a time when it was illegal to be gay in the military. Co-showrunners Andy Parker and Jennifer Cecil decided to move the story to the 1990s, a decision White fully supported.

“I was excited about that shift because so much was happening in the 90s,” explained White, referencing the controversial 1993 U.S. military policy “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) that allowed gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals to serve in the armed forces as long as they did not disclose their sexual orientation. This was also an interesting time in history with America’s involvement in the Gulf War, also known as Operation Desert Storm.

White reflected on what it felt like to be a gay Marine recruit in the 1980s. “Other men were serving that were also gay, and everybody had to pretend that they weren’t. It was scary. In boot camp, I was so terrified of anyone finding out my secret, mainly because several weeks in, I started finding my footing. For the first time, I was being told I was good at something,” he explained, adding that he didn’t have a father to guide him and was raised by a single mother, and that it felt good to be a part of something.

“To be told I was doing a good job was so stunning to me that I didn’t want to lose that. I finally found something I was good at, and I didn’t want it taken away. Meryl Streep couldn’t have butched it up for 13 weeks like I did.”

In addition to finding his calling, White made lifelong friends, many of whom inspired the colorful characters in Boots. The incredibly talented ensemble cast is led by Miles Heizer, who portrays closeted Cameron Cope, and Liam Oh as his best friend and secret-keeper, Ray McAffey, the son of a decorated Marine, who was inspired by White’s lifelong, real-life best friend.

Filmed over two years in New Orleans, the cast and crew faced severe heat and multiple Hollywood strikes, and, like those recruits in boot camp, a brotherhood was formed. As a viewer, you can feel the camaraderie between the actors.

To ensure that every single detail was adhered to, three Marines joined the production as Military Technical Advisors. Sammy ‘Gunny’ Wray, Leon Ingleright, and Travis J. Neuman were there to make certain every detail was on point, or as a Marine would say, “squared away,” and the cast went to a boot camp of sorts.

As Heizer said in a separate interview, “It was quite luxurious compared to an actual Marine boot camp,” adding that some things, like pull-ups, that looked hard actually weren’t. Other things, like standing at attention, were surprisingly challenging. “It seems so straightforward and mundane, but it’s tough. Every muscle in your body is tensed up.”

Led by Heizer and Oh, the entire cast is phenomenal, including several new faces. Max Parker, Kieron Moore, Cedrick Cooper, Ana Ayora, Blake Burt, Nicholas Logan, Dominic Goodman, Angus O’Brien, and Rico Paris gave incredible performances. The entire cast is pure perfection, and this series is sure to launch several careers.

One familiar face is Vera Farmiga, who brilliantly, and without missing a single comedic beat, portrays Barbara Cope, the begrudging mother of recruit Cameron Cope. At first, she doesn’t even realize her son has gone to boot camp, and she’s not happy when she finds out.

After six years of service, White decided not to re-enlist. “The fear that I felt moment by moment as I hid my secret was outpowered by the love and respect I had come to have for my fellow Marines. Love wins.”

When asked about his relationship with Lear, White refers to it as a gift. “I’m amazed that I even get to answer this question, because I was such a fan of his as a little kid,” he said, listing some of his favorite Lear sitcoms, including All in the Family and All That Glitters, as revolutionary in their time.

“I was raised at a time when society was telling me that I was wrong, that I wasn’t wanted, that everything about me was undesirable, and that I had no future and no hope,” explained White, recalling how it felt to be gay in the 1970s. “Norman’s shows had gay storylines, and I got glimpses from those stories that told me I was okay.”

It all began when White moved to Hollywood following his time in the service. A friend of a friend got him an interview with Lear. “I just got really lucky. Norman loved the fact that I had a Marine Corps background.”

Lear was also a Veteran, having served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II as a radio operator and gunner on B-17 Flying Fortress bombers. Before he became a legend in the world of television, Lear flew 52 combat missions over Nazi-occupied Europe and received the Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters for his service. Lear’s time in the military influenced his TV shows, which were admired for their brave tackling of social issues.

“We loved to swap stories, and so many were hysterical,” shared White. “He called me Sergeant, and another producer that also worked for him, Rachel Davidson, would say, ‘That’s funny! It’s like calling a big guy tiny.’ And Norman said, ‘No, that was his rank in the Marine Corps.’ She said, ‘Oh, this story I have to hear.’”

Davidson, who served as an executive producer on Boots, played a key role in getting this series made. It was Davidson who guided the project from Cope’s initial writing of the book when the two were working with Lear. She optioned “The Pink Marine,” and together, Davidson and Cope brought the book to Lear and his producing partner Brent Miller, hoping that Lear would jump on board as an executive producer. Lear, who had previously written the book’s foreword, said yes. This would be one of the revered writer-producer’s final projects.

“To have Norman’s mentorship and support and just to share laughs with him…I’m aware how rare that air is to breathe, and I don’t take it for granted,” added White. “We would talk about the humor in the human condition, and he encouraged me to tell my stories.”

As for stories, there are plenty more for Cameron and his fellow Marines, added White, should Netflix renew the series for a second season. Semper Fi!