Tuck & Cover — S.J.D. Peterson

Battle Buddy 

At nineteen, Shane Tucker joins the army. Tucker is gay but not ready to be open about it, and Don't Ask, Don't Tell seems like a convenient way to avoid dealing with his sexuality.

The army suits Tucker; he does well from the beginning. Then, during boot camp, he's assigned a “battle buddy,” Owen Bradford. Owen is a walking, talking wet dream with no concept of personal space. Tucker only survives the constant temptation by venting to his diary.

Two years later, Tucker -- now in the Army Ranger program -- is paired up with Owen once again. Getting through training while ignoring the sexual tension between him and his battle buddy might be the biggest test of Tucker's military career.

Tuck & Cover

You may have read Tuck's diary entries, but they don't tell the whole story. Tuck will argue the point, but he definitely got a few details wrong -- not that I blame him. He was, if you remember, a little sexually frustrated at the time. He probably wasn't thinking straight. I'll never get tired of teasing him about that. Anyway, here's what really happened.

Rangers lead the way! �" Owen