Operation Take One For The Country (Girls to give it to GI's)

Mission Statement: To discretely provide US troops shipping out overseas with the most sensually pleasing departure possible.

Kelly McDonough types furiously on the keyboard at the cluttered desk in her house that serves as her unofficial command post. McDonough, a 5'4" brunette, looks far younger than her 26 years; asked to describe herself she unabashedly says, "farm girl, which is what I am". She waves apologetically and says, "Sorry, I'll be with you in a minute". Amid various calendars and dry erase boards a hand painted sign hangs above the desk, emblazoned in military style stenciling "Operation: Take One for the Country". McDonough pushes back from the desk and exhales, "So you want to know how Take One for the Country started?". McDonough leans back in her chair, "It was back in February of 2003, when a lot of troops were leaving Ft. Benning. My girlfriends and I were partying at a bar frequented by soldiers. At some point one my friend leaves with a young soldier. The next day we questioned her and commented that the soldier didn't seem her 'type'. My friend just shrugged and said, 'Hey, his unit was going to ship out in a few days, so I decided to take one for the country', I knew right then and there that this was an incredible idea, so I started Operation Take One for the Country".

McDonough energetically describes exactly what Operation Take One for the Country does, "First, a military operation would not be a military operation unless we used an acronym, in this case, Op T.O.F.T.C., or as we say 'To-FutK'. Essentially we organize, discreetly, single girls to frequent bars and restaurants near military bases and, well, Take One for the Country, with members of the military, especially those about to go overseas". As McDonough describes it, TOFTC volunteers work in secrecy, "We're not out there with signs or badges. We are completely covert, you could not tell a TOFTC member from anyone else in the bar, and that is essential to the success of the Op".

Military terms and phrases flow freely in McDonough's speech. She admits that, even with a brother in the army, before starting TOFTC she knew little of military life or lexicon. "There are a lot of girls out there like me who would like to do something for the country and really have no idea where to start. Our philosophy is if you are out there partying and engage in casual sex you might as well 'Take One for the Country'". The nicely built brunette sits cross legged on her chair and delineates what she sees as the benefits of TOFTC, "The men go off into harms way gratified, and because the organization is covert, they get the boost in ego thinking that they scored on their own attributes, they ship out relaxed and confident, with a distinct impression of a grateful nation behind them". McDonough is adamant about safety "The principle is simple, don't do anyone you don't want to do, be safe, be protected" and reiterates this when meeting with TOFTC groups.

Apparently there is no lack of volunteers for TOFTC outings. McDonough relates her findings, "There is some much societal pressure on getting a job, getting married, you know, getting ahead. I think there are a lot of gals out there that want to do something for the country, they may or may not support some aspects of foreign policy, but they want to feel like they contribute or make a difference. And this is a fun way to do it, . . . so to speak".

The map on the wall of her makeshift command post illustrates that TOFTC is a nationwide operation, and apparently growing fast. "We have 19 officially unofficial TOFTC 'battalions', as we call our groupings, across the United States, and we are getting emails and calls all the time". TOFTC memos and correspondences are all printed on pink stationary using a handwriting script font, McDonough explains that this is necessary for the covert nature of the operation and that men will likely not pick up or read something printed on pink stationary.

TOFTC has not been able to maintain complete secrecy and word has leaked out. I contacted Annette Spargas of the UC Berkley chapter of NOW and asked if she had ever heard of Operation Take One for the Country. Spargas said that she, in fact, had heard of TOFTC and was working to find and protest the group at the first opportunity. "These women are really sick, they are prostituting themselves", Spargas ranted, "they are objectifying their bodies to the killers of the Bush cabals war machine. They need to examine how men have made prostitutes of women throughout time". McDonough is un-phased by this type of objection, "What a bunch of bay-auches! Those femi-nazis really make me mad. Yeah, we have a TOFTC 'battalion' in Oakland, but nothing else in the bay area. Berkeley girls are too femi-nazi granola and the Stanford girls are too stuck up intellectual. Not to worry though, we're getting some good indications of interest from Sacramento and Amador Counties (outside of San Francisco) and we'll be able to take care of the men of the Pacific Fleet, don't you worry".

Jane Kelso arrives at McDonough's house that afternoon to work on a TOFTC 'battalion' trip to Jacksonville Florida. Kelso is married to an army sergeant and has expanded the mandate for TOFTC. "I'm getting married women into the equation, but not how you think", Kelso offers with a wry grin. "Like any other woman, a wife or girlfriend of a male member of the armed services, probably withholds sex. I'm trying to get these women to Take One for the Country as often as possible before their husband/boyfriend ships out. I mean, some of this military wives think felatio is a Baroque era painter! These women need to suck, eh, I mean take a big money shot from their husbands/boyfriends as a patriotic duty".

The discussion naturally swings to the question of "Do you have any male volunteers?". Kelso brightens as she and McDonough exchange a high-five, "Oooo-aaahh, YES we do!". McDonough becomes somewhat somber and says, "There are plenty of single women serving in the armed forces, and as we've all seen, they are in harm's way, although for the men it may not be about sex, it could be going shopping or cuddling up watching a chick flick or a 'Trading Spaces' marathon. Same rules for the men 'Be safe, be protected, be discrete'".

Kelso and McDonough return back to planning the TOFTC trip to Jacksonville and whether they will need two buses get everyone there. Afterwards, McDonough mused about the future of TOFTC, "I think the concept has been around during every conflict the U.S. has been involved in, even during Vietnam. Operation Take One for the Country is here to stay, I'm going to make sure there is always a TOFTC happening somewhere. The members of our armed forces deserve it. God Bless America"

While I have met several moral, and pious, soldiers -I've met far more that were red blooded people.
I myself wasn't a monk, but I didn't cheat on the missus either.

I get asked sometimes about the 'morals' in the military, and get looked at funny when I say that soldiers are people too with the same feelings and same failings as everyone else.
(Some people have an unrealistic image of soldiers as either the lust driven sailor in Hong Kong of storied fame, or the virtue steeped 'perfect knight' who is chaste to a 'T', as you mentioned.)
Not every soldier is a Sir Percifal type, but neither are they all drooling salivating lust beasts.
And I'm seeing what you're talking about here and there.

Heck, when I was in Basic and AIT, we had a guy there who'd never even been 'with' a woman before.
Made the mistake (his words) of going with a girl and winding up in predictable situation therewith.
(He was very depressed over it oddly, he'd wanted to wait on that. She was very ecstatic. Weird.)

But others in my Basic training platoon were after anything remotely female, while others were faithful to their girls.
The same as with normal every day people.

Well, O.C., You put me to thinkin'. I get that way sometimes, and nothing can stop me. This probably should be on another thread, but here goes...and it's NOT a flame, so please, bear with me.

I've been a Naval Aircrewman for over ten years now, with three of those spent as an Instructor of same. I've observed thousands of Sailors, Marines, Air Force personnel, and Coast Guardsmen in my time. You and I are BOTH right.

The military demands much of its members...acceptance of grave physical danger, appalling working conditions, family separation (which I am now enduring), and low pay for all the above. Basically, there are two types of people who actively seek it out, and continue with it for a career. They can be summed up in two literary figures, both by the same author (and being something of a bookworm myself, metaphors like these appeal to me). That author, Robert E. Howard, created TWO archetypal characters in the 20s and 30s who sum it up perfectly.

1. SOLOMON KANE: Kane was a strict, devout Puritan in the 16th and 17th centuries, who traveled the world battling evil, as he believed God had commanded him to do. His weapons were his unshakeable faith, and his sharp rapier. Never did he touch wine or women; faced with overwhelming odds, his faith in God always saw him through the worst travails to victory.

Howard's other hero is quite a bit more well-known...

2. CONAN THE BARBARIAN: Conan of Howard's original stories had little use for religion. His people's god, Crom, "cares little for the troubles of men. He breathes into each strength and will at birth, to do with as they would". Conan battles with a huge, sharp sword and his titanic strength and courage as his weapons. In his stories, he goes from boyish thief to warrior to pirate to general, and eventually, to king by his own hand. Faced with adversity, he prevails through sheer animal confidence and powers of strength and will. In his spare time, he could be found spending his plunder at some tavern, a huge hand around a mug of ale, and the other around a comely wench. always prepared to fight, insulting him usually meant instant death.

Most of the military folk I've met in my life fall somewhere between these two extremes. In the Enlisted ranks, where I make my own living, the tendency is toward the "Conan" archetype. In the Officer corps, I've seen more leaning towards "Kane". Some do fall in the middle; they usually serve one or two tours, and exit honorably. Those who stay, and make a career of it, lean to one side or the other.The commonalities they share are unstinting loyalty, and hearts the size of whales. Let me give you an example:

Overseas one deployment, we had one young man in our unit of strong religious conviction. He wanted no "nights on the town", as it were, and made that known. The response from us Visigoths? "That's cool, man. Want us to bring you back some food, or some postcards for home?"

Ever after that, the boys would return from their revels bearing scrumptious local food for him, and souvenirs for his family.

Never in all my years in this business have I ever witnessed the "intimidation" or "pressure" you spoke of. Not only is it frowned upon, both officially and unofficially, but these guys, no matter their relative beliefs and persuasions, are steadfast loyal to one another. They are truly "America's Best".

SHEESH! I get choked up thinking of it. I must be getting old...

You mentioned the travails of Jesus. I am not a religious man myself, so forgive me if I get the story wrong, but He KNEW what he was doing...dying for our sins, to redeem us all. The ULTIMATE in "taking one for the team", as it were. He could not resist what was His destiny to endure, though I'm sure also that at least a few times, He probably wished he could have fed those Romans their whips!

A Soldier is fundamentally different; he must not only endure but is expected to fight back with all the powers at his command. He cannot turn the other cheek; he must bring destruction to his enemies. This perforce demands a certain mindset, one considerably more aggressive than that of the Prince Of Peace.

Either the Soldier finds his strength to do his duty in his Faith, or in himself. Kane or Conan, or some combination thereof.

Both work quite well for the purpose; and in the US military, both are turned towards the protection of Liberty and Freedom. In the service, both get along rather well with each other, and each in its way supports the other. We NEED both; one by itself cannot prevail without the other. The Faith must GUIDE the Strength, the Strength must SUPPORT the Faith. We realize this; it is why we all can work as a team to protect ALL in our Nation.

The Puritan and the Barbarian...can any force stand against BOTH, allied as one?

Thanks for listening.

"Yes, there is a small, noisy group on FR that thinks that every soldier, sailor, and airman are also monks who recoil in horror at the thought of a naked woman. They also believe that these same brave souls fighting out there never do or never should have a sexual thought at all, unless it is in context to their eventual wives that they will meet."

Hell, back in '97, someone who thinks like that, Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, rammed a rider on the Defense Appropriations bill banning all "girlie" magazines from sale at ALL US military base exchanges. He said at the time it was "to protect our brave young men and women from the evils of smut".

The guy's a Republican and a conservative, but I don't know a single military guy who'd vote for him again.

We already get to enjoy fewer rights than civilians, and we accept that, but treating us like little children like that was way too much.

"monks who recoil in horror at the thought of a naked woman..."

I wonder if they've ever taken a gander at the nose art on WWII bombers?

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