Brothers In Arms | Chapter 6

Summary

Unfit For Service Episode: Brothers In Arms | Chapter 6 Release Date: November 18, 2024 Host: Eric Marcus

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Introduction

In Chapter 6 of Unfit For Service, titled "Brothers In Arms," host Eric Marcus delves deeper into the clandestine life of Randy Taylor, a dedicated soldier in the United States Army who grapples with the immense pressure of hiding his true identity under the oppressive "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. This episode masterfully intertwines Randy's military journey with the personal struggles of his family, particularly his younger brother, Brett.

Randy's Struggle Within the Military

Randy Taylor's commitment to serving America is juxtaposed against the heavy burden of concealing his sexuality. As he rises through the ranks, Randy meticulously maintains a facade, fearing that any revelation of his relationship with Lucas could jeopardize his career and safety.

Randy expresses his anxiety:

"Like, how could this happen? You know, have I been away so long and so kind of wrapped up in my own career and desires that a brother of mine grew to have an addiction that I wasn't even aware of. Like, how did we become so separated, so disconnected in that way?"
[02:53]

Brett's Battle with Addiction

Contrasting Randy's disciplined military life is Brett Taylor, his younger brother, whose vibrant and outgoing personality masks a severe struggle with alcohol addiction. Brett's inability to function without alcohol paints a stark picture of his internal battles.

Randy reflects on Brett's condition:

"He couldn't comprehend how someone could become so addicted, so dependent, and yet at the same time seem so functional, be so likable. I mean, he wasn't an alcoholic that was, you know, laying in the gutter."
[27:00]

Despite Randy's efforts to support Brett, including funding his rehabilitation, the younger brother's frustration with Randy's secrecy about his own life only deepens their rift.

A Pivotal Opportunity: Assignment at the White House

In 2004, following a successful deployment to Afghanistan, Randy receives an unexpected promotion to colonel with a prestigious assignment at the White House. This opportunity, while a testament to his hard work, thrusts him into an environment where his hidden life becomes even more precarious, especially under President George W. Bush's administration, which staunchly opposed gay marriage.

Randy shares his astonishment:

"I was blown away by that."
[11:29]

The Brothers’ Elaborate Cover Story

To maintain his cover at the White House, Randy and his boyfriend Lucas adopt the guise of brothers. Lucas legally changes his last name to Taylor, and together they craft a believable narrative of sibling camaraderie. However, maintaining this deception proves challenging, especially as they navigate high-security environments and the constant fear of being discovered.

Lucas discusses their cover:

"I believe Randy would just say, you know, it's my,... my youngest brother kept it very short."
[14:17]

Their careful act is put to the test when they are invited to take a photograph with President Bush, an event that heightens their anxiety about potential exposure.

Climactic Encounter with President Bush

The pinnacle of their undercover mission occurs when Randy and Lucas meet President Bush in the Oval Office. The encounter is fraught with tension, as both men fear that any misstep could unravel their carefully constructed lives.

Randy conveys his fears:

"There’s no way, especially under President Bush, who had perpetuated Don't Ask, Don't Tell,... That really was a very divisive issue at the time."
[20:09]

Despite their apprehensions, the meeting proceeds without incident. They successfully present themselves as brothers, capturing a photograph with the President—a moment that symbolizes both their triumph and the enduring struggle of living a double life.

Lucas reflects on the experience:

"It's one of those moments where it feels much longer than it actually was. I'm sure I was only in there for two to three minutes. It felt like I was in there for an hour."
[23:29]

Aftermath and Ongoing Struggles

Following the conclusion of his White House assignment, Randy experiences a semblance of peace. However, the familial tensions remain unresolved. Brett's addiction worsens, and his inability to understand Randy's secrecy about his own life exacerbates their strained relationship.

Randy laments the necessity of his secrets:

"It felt terrible, absolutely terrible the whole time we would ever have to lie about being gay or not."
[24:53]

Themes and Insights

"Brothers In Arms" poignantly explores themes of identity, secrecy, and the personal costs of serving in a hostile environment. Randy's dedication to his country and his struggle to maintain personal integrity highlight the broader societal challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in the military during the early 2000s.

The episode also delves into family dynamics, illustrating how societal pressures and personal secrets can fracture even the closest of bonds. Brett's battle with addiction serves as a stark contrast to Randy's disciplined life, emphasizing the diverse ways individuals cope with internal and external conflicts.

Conclusion

Chapter 6 of Unfit For Service offers a compelling narrative that intertwines military duty with personal turmoil. Randy Taylor's journey is a testament to resilience and the quest for authenticity in the face of systemic adversity. As the episode concludes, listeners are left reflecting on the profound impact of policies like "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and the enduring struggle for personal freedom and acceptance within the framework of national service.

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Notable Quotes:

• Randy on being overwhelmed:

  "He seemed to be overwhelmed with his circumstance, overwhelmed with his anxiety about not finding his place in the world."
  [02:30]

• Lucas on the dangers of their situation:

  "I know that the Secret Service has investigated every person in that line, and I am a little... concerned that, you know, the jig's up, that this calculated risk was too great."
  [21:28]

• Randy on the moral conflict:

  "Where you can't share who you are at the very same time when you're devoting your life in service with an institution that so much relies on integrity..."
  [24:53]

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Production Credits:

Unfit For Service is a production of Wavland and Vespucci, hosted by Eric Marcus. The episode features contributions from executive producers Jason Hoke (Wavland), Daniel Turkin and Johnny Galvin (Vespucci), series producer Rachel Byrne, story editors Matt Willis and Thomas Curry, with additional script editing by Sara Burningham. The audio was recorded by Katherine Cook at CDM Sound Studios, with sound design by Arlie Adlington and Alex Portfelix, and audio mixing by Alex Portfelix.

Follow Wavland:

• Instagram: Wavland Media

Support the Show: If you enjoy Unfit For Service, please leave a review and share it with your friends!

Transcript

[Narrator]

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[Carl's Jr. Advertiser]

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[US Cellular Advertiser]

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[Eric Marcus]

Podcast is intended for mature audiences.

[Narrator]

Listener discretion is advised.

[Randy]

But he would tell me, hey, you know, I was arrested for this and then I had this fine that wasn't paid. And then this other thing that you know, I've got to make right. And I'm thinking, how can you let all these things compound? He seemed to be overwhelmed with his circumstance, overwhelmed with his anxiety about not finding his place in the world.

[Eric Marcus]

When it rains, it pours. For years, Randy has been doing everything humanly possible to keep his sexuality a secret and hide his relationship with Lucas. Crossing a desert full of landmines, fending off suspicious superior officers, and investigating one of his own soldiers for homosexual activity. All of this while rising in rank and stature in the US military. But while Randy and Lucas are doing everything they can to maintain this high wire act, Randy gets a call from Brett. His kid brother. Brett tells Randy he's got a drinking problem. Randy's totally shocked. Early warning signs like Brett's all too frequent partying and brief run ins with the law had passed Randy by.

[Randy]

Like, how could this happen? You know, have I been away so long and so kind of wrapped up in my own career and desires that a brother of mine grew to have an addiction that I wasn't even aware of. Like, how did we become so separated, so disconnected in that way?

[Eric Marcus]

In direct contrast to Randy, Brett's been living an out and proud life. He has heaps of friends, a flamboyant sense of humor and a well known love for Bette Midler. So much so, some of his friends even refer to him as Brett Midler. He's magnetic, open, the life and soul of any party.

[Randy]

He's the guy that had so much more personality and charisma and likability than me and most people I know.

[Eric Marcus]

But Brett's self assurance is a thin mask away from socializing. He's sort of rudderless. He's gotten into trouble with the police and with his finances. He's had problems keeping jobs and maintaining relationships. He's never really had any stability. And as the people around him have grown up and moved on, Brett's been left behind. He feels like an outsider. So he drinks.

[Randy]

He was just struggling with a lot of inability to find his place in society just to feel like he fit in. And it was alcohol that helped just help him cope with that. I just felt tremendous responsibility as an older brother to do what I could and at the same time let him live his life. Let him learn, you know, I would bend over backwards to do whatever I could do.

[Eric Marcus]

I'm Eric Marcus and from Waveland and Vespucci. This is unfit for service. Episode 6 Brothers in Arms.

[Narrator]

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[Carl's Jr. Advertiser]

The kind of burgers you get today tells you a lot about yourself. You're either someone who settles for sad, same old, same old burgers or you're Edit Carl's Jr. Obsessed with a tangy OG Western bacon cheeseburger demanding a house made guacamole. Loaded guac bacon, Fired up for the insanely hot El Diablo or craving a classic Charbold famous star? Give in to your flavored cravings. Do your mouth to Carl's Jr. Big Burger.

[Eric Marcus]

Good Burger. It's 2004. Randy is back in the U.S. his time in Afghanistan has come to an end. He's managed to persuade his colleagues to drop the don't ask, don't tell proceedings against the young soldier who was investigated over an alleged same sex handjob. Randy's relief is twofold. Not only is the soldier free from dismissal, but Randy's escaped scrutiny too. Randy's fellow officers seem to be none the wiser about his private life, which is just as well, because homosexuality is once again on the political front burner.

[George W. Bush]

Thank you.

[Randy]

Please be seated.

[George W. Bush]

Good morning. Eight years ago, Congress passed and President Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage act, which defined marriage for purposes of federal law as a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife.

[Eric Marcus]

In 2004, President George W. Bush and the Republicans target gay marriage as a wedge issue to help propel Bush to a second term.

[George W. Bush]

In recent months, however, some activist judges and local officials have made an aggressive attempt to redefine marriage.

[US Cellular Advertiser]

Tonight, gay couples throughout Massachusetts are celebrating a day many thought might never come.

[Eric Marcus]

The highest court in Massachusetts has ruled in favor of gay marriage.

[Randy]

After a three year fight, they're now legally getting married.

[Eric Marcus]

And on the other side of the country, the city of San Francisco issues thousands of marriage licenses to same sex couples.

[US Cellular Advertiser]

And we were declared spouses for life. That's my wife and I. Which was one of the happiest moments of my life.

[Randy]

Outside city hall wasn't all cheers. A smattering of anti gay marriage and anti gay protesters made their views seen with signs and voices heard.

[Lucas]

Homosexual, bisexual love.

[Eric Marcus]

Okay.

[Narrator]

It's evil, it's perverted, and it's cursed by God.

[Lucas]

Okay.

[George W. Bush]

The union of a man and woman is the most enduring human institution, honored and encouraged in all cultures and by every religious faith.

[Eric Marcus]

President Bush goes on counteroffensive and proposes an amendment to the United States Constitution stating that legal marriage can only be between one man and one woman.

[George W. Bush]

Ages of experience have taught humanity that the commitment of a husband and wife to love and to serve one another promotes the welfare of children and the stability of society.

[Eric Marcus]

It's a potent rallying cry for the presidential campaign at the expense of gay Americans.

[George W. Bush]

Marriage cannot be severed from its cultural, religious, and natural roots without weakening the good influence of society.

[Eric Marcus]

And it's not just Republicans who object to same sex marriage. Democratic senator John Kerry, who would go on to be Bush's presidential rival, opposes gay marriage too.

[Lucas]

I believe marriage is between a man and a woman.

[Eric Marcus]

The constitutional amendment goes nowhere, but Bush does win a second four year term.

[George W. Bush]

We had a long night and a great night. The voters turned out in record numbers and delivered an historic victory.

[Randy]

When actually I got a call from the White House, from the White House military office, and they said, hey, we've been looking over your records. We've asked the department of Defense for some candidates. We think you're the perfect fit for this particular position, and we really want you to come up here and talk to us.

[Eric Marcus]

A year into President Bush's second term, Randy receives a phone call. The army wants to reward Randy's hard work with a promotion to colonel and an assignment at the White House.

[Randy]

I was blown away by that.

[Eric Marcus]

It's a huge honor. But after his recent deployment to Afghanistan and all that he's gone through with Lucas, he was hoping they'd find some peace and stability to live their secret life with less pressure. A position in President Bush's White House would mean the opposite. It had turned the heat up. Instead, Randy would be managing top secret communications in times of crisis on behalf of the president.

[Randy]

That unit's responsibility is all military support to the president and the vice president to some extent, but primarily the president. It includes things like Air Force One. And I was part of another organization that was in charge of a very special mission, and that is should we have a bad day in the country or the president be threatened with a really bad day, what emergency procedures are necessary, what locations, what techniques are required to allow him to continue to function, or her function as the chief executive of the country, as the head of state, and as the commander in chief of the nation's forces.

[Eric Marcus]

Randy knows how President Bush feels about gay marriage and therefore how Bush might feel about him, the real him. But it's an opportunity to serve his country at a level Randy could never have imagined. So after much deliberation and discussion with Lucas, Randy accepts the assignment.

[Randy]

So we're walking around and I'm just. I was just amazed. We were just walking by the Louisville office. The next thing I know, there's a figure advancing down the hall, walking confidently, and it's President Bush. He walks right behind me. And I was totally speechless. It caught me off guard. We acknowledged each other and he says something affected. Hi or how you doing? I was just dumbfounded. And after that experience, I said, how can I not do this? This is so important.

[Eric Marcus]

As Randy starts his role at the White House, he and Lucas have to step up their undercover operation.

[Lucas]

Our cover was Randy is the eldest brother of seven, and I am the youngest brother.

[Eric Marcus]

Brothers. Lucas legally changes his last name, so now they're the Taylor brothers.

[Lucas]

I believe Randy would just say, you know, it's my. My youngest brother kept it very short. You know, he lives with me right now, getting up on his feet. We do have a 10, almost 11 year difference, so it was very believable. And we have similar hair colors, so it wasn't far fetched for people to.

[Brett]

Believe the COVID was. I tell people he's my brother, and he's a bit of a recluse. He doesn't like to talk to people, and so there'd be enough for people to say, okay, I get it. That's why he's avoiding me. That's why he's not talking to me. And people would just say, okay, and they just, like, give us our space.

[Eric Marcus]

While pretending to be Randy's younger brother is certainly strange in other ways. It's closer to Lucas dream for them to share a name, to be a real family. But there are limits. At one point, Randy gets a little carried away with embellishing the charade.

[Lucas]

One day, I'm coming home from work, and I noticed this lady who I had just met the day before, who seemed very friendly, grab her child and go inside. And I go up to Randy and I say, you know, this is strange. This just happened. He goes, well, I told her that you were my youngest brother and you were a bit troubled, and the parents have sent you to me to straighten out. I had told Randy that was unacceptable. I was not going to play the part of the troubled younger brother. I could just be the younger brother. But, yeah, my theater skills, they were definitely put to the test.

[Eric Marcus]

Did Randy honor your wish to not describe you as the troubled brother?

[Lucas]

Oh, yes. I really did not give him an option to that. It was a hard line. I'm not going to be a troubled person. In this make believe fantasy, the strange.

[Eric Marcus]

Recluse Persona gets dropped. But Randy and Lucas continue their act as brothers. Two years pass, and as Randy nears the end of his White House assignment, he feels confident that he and Lucas will make it through with their carefully constructed story intact. But when an opportunity arises for White House staff to bring their family to meet the president, Randy's Perhaps a little too confident.

[Lucas]

I don't know if all presidents do this, but George W. Bush did. Anytime that someone who worked for him was leaving, they were invited to come in with their one additional person, typically a spouse. To have their photo taken with the.

[Eric Marcus]

President in the Oval Office, Randy receives his own invitation.

[Randy]

I remember, you know, it being time for my photo with the President, and I absolutely had to have Lucas a part of that.

[Lucas]

And Randy came to me and said, well, we have this opportunity. This is what we're doing. And I said, so are you. Are you going to do this alone? And he goes, no, I think my youngest brother's going to come with me. I went, wow. Because this. This is gutsy. I mean, I'm meeting the President. I'm going into the Oval Office. I know the level of scrutiny to stand in the same room with the President.

[Randy]

Of course, I submit Lucas Taylor name, and I had to put the relationship, put him down his brother. And so here we go.

[Eric Marcus]

On the day of the photograph, Lucas puts on his best suit with a monochrome striped tie. Randy wears formal military dress. His jacket is perfectly pressed with his chest full of ribbons and his name badge Taylor emblazoned above his right pocket. They arrive at the White House and walk through security with their IDs in hand. Randy's on high alert. As the Secret Service watches them closely. His mind races. What do they know? Are they going to get caught?

[Randy]

Now we're standing in line and we're lining up in the West Wing, and Lucas and I are just sweating bullets.

[Lucas]

There's a lot of people in line, and at the same time, the President is conducting the business of the nation. So it's, you know, they take one picture and you wait 10 to 15 minutes for them to take the next picture. I say all that to say that we were there for hours and it was. It was getting warm in D.C. it by no means was comfortable. I'm in a suit and tie. I am sweating.

[Eric Marcus]

Randy and Lucas wait as people file in and out of the Oval Office. They wait and wait. Four hours go by. Randy's working hard to choke back his internal panic. He's a colonel working in the White House and their Secret Service everywhere. What if they've discovered Lucas is not his real brother? What if they're busted? Maybe he should just come clean. No, he can't. He just can't. That would be insane.

[Randy]

There's no way, especially under President Bush, who had perpetuated Don't Ask, Don't Tell, who was by no means at the time someone who was wanting gays to serve openly in the military and who, by the way, during his reelection campaign, really used same sex marriage as the wedge issue of the whole campaign. That really was a very divisive issue at the time.

[Eric Marcus]

Randy has dedicated his entire life to serving his country, and now he's about to lie to the president of the United States, his commander in chief. What are they doing here? Are they out of their minds?

[Randy]

Incredibly nervous that they would find out. Oh, my gosh. I was under a microscope in the most intense way that anybody that holds a clearance could be. It was a very dangerous, very precarious situation. I would have been gone in a minute at the White House. If they discovered that I was gay, I would immediately been let out of the building, and I would have disappeared at that point, and I would never be able to return to the White House.

[Lucas]

I know that the Secret service has investigated every person in that line, and I am a little. I'm more than a little concerned that, you know, the jig's up, that this calculated risk was too great.

[Eric Marcus]

But then the waiting's over. It's time to go in.

[Lucas]

You had a uniform, Secret Service. A uniform, meaning they wear an officer's uniform. Secret Service, who kind of shows us in. And George W. Bush is standing in front of his desk on the presidential carpet.

[Randy]

There's the president. He's got an aide in there, and he's got a photographer. And President Bush was very engaging, very charming. He's a very charismatic person. And right away, he starts chatting it up with Lucas.

[Lucas]

The president reached out his hand to shake mine, and I introduced myself to him. And also he talked to Randy for a second. I had just become a realtor, so the president asked me how the market was doing.

[Eric Marcus]

Colonel Randy Taylor has just introduced his boyfriend Lucas to the president. President of the United States. This is a president who wanted to make gay marriage unconstitutional to make it impossible for Randy and Lucas relationship to be recognized under the law ever. All that's left now is to strike a pose for the camera.

[Lucas]

Randy stood on the president's right side, and I stood on the president's left side. And we faced a photographer. And a little bit of nervous and trying not to shake and try to make sure my eyes are open because this, you know, you get one shot.

[Randy]

And then we took a photo. And Lucas and I were so, at that point, just so terrified. We're like, we've got this stare. Like you could just look at the photo now and just see just how nervous we are that we were so driven to do it, but at the same time very, very nervous about it.

[Lucas]

It's one of those moments where it feels much longer than it actually was. I'm sure I was only in there for two to three minutes. It felt like I was in there for an hour.

[Eric Marcus]

The whole time they've been in the oval Office, Randy and Lucas have been scanning the room, just waiting to be tapped on the shoulder to be escorted out. But that moment just never comes.

[Lucas]

No one pulled us aside. The secret Service, you know, wasn't ushering Randy into a private room. I was relieved when it was over because I felt like, well, we didn't get caught, but yeah, and we have that memories in a photograph.

[Eric Marcus]

They're relieved they'd managed to pull off an audacious stunt. They're kind of giddy with excitement, but as the excitement wears off, their reality comes creeping back.

[Randy]

I mean, it felt terrible, absolutely terrible the whole time we would ever have to lie about being gay or not. It's felt terrible the whole time. Where you can't share who you are at the very same time when you're devoting your life in service with an institution that so much relies on integrity as one of these kind of core character traits, the core values of, you know, who we are as an army and then believe that and live that in all aspects of your life, except for the deepest and most important personal parts of your life about who you really are and who you sharing your life with. And so it felt terrible to lie about it.

[US Cellular Advertiser]

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[Walmart Advertiser]

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[Eric Marcus]

After finishing his assignment at the White House and getting out from under the microscope, things calm down for Randy. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for Brett, Randy's younger brother who's struggling with alcohol addiction.

[Brett]

And he said, hey, I gotta go down to the store and get something, I don't know, cigarettes or something. I said, hey, let me drive you. And so he was kind of reluctant. He wanted to get away by himself. But I said, let me just.

[Randy]

Let me join you.

[Brett]

So we got in the truck and we drove, and we just had a conversation about where he was in his dependency struggle. I had never realized it was as bad as he just then described to me. I didn't. I couldn't comprehend how someone could become so addicted, so dependent, and yet at the same time seem so functional, be so likable. I mean, he wasn't an alcoholic that was, you know, laying in the gutter. He was someone that was just put together, life of the party kind of guy. But he shared with me, and it kind of blew me away that he could not function. He could not even get out of bed. He could not speak or stand up unless he first consumed alcohol. That he would have to. As soon as his eyes would open in bed, he'd have to reach down to a bottle of vodka at his side and start drinking it in order to steady himself, just to get out of bed. And that his body just, he thought, just could not function unless there was alcohol flowing in his veins.

[Eric Marcus]

Randy tries to support Brett, and he pays for his brother to go to rehab, but it doesn't help. At the same time, Brett is still frustrated with his big brother. He can't understand why Randy doesn't just come out, why Randy is so determined to keep his relationship with Lucas a secret.

[Randy]

Brett would have been happy for me just to out myself and leave the military and just go off and do something else with my life. I think it really bothered him that I served and stayed silent under don't ask, don't tell. I think that really rubbed him the wrong way.

[Eric Marcus]

It's clear to Randy that he and his brother have very different understandings of what's at stake here. Brett's outspoken criticism and his increasing instability feel like a dangerous combination.

[Randy]

There were several things where we invited the family to attend ceremonies for a promotion or take command of an organization or some special event. And I'd invite the whole family, but then I would secretly hope that Brett would not accept because he stood out. He was not at all ashamed about being all that he could be. In the military setting, he would stand out like a peacock. It was very much a setting where gayness was being treated as a criminal offense. And so just to invite someone into that kind of setting was a gamble. You just didn't know which way it would go. No gays were being tolerated in the military. And even a gay civilian in the military environment was not acceptable, was not welcomed.

[Eric Marcus]

Randy loves Brett and wants him to be a part of his life, but including him is a huge risk.

[Brett]

I just thought he was a ticking bomb when it came to blowing the COVID So I can just imagine him being at an event and just standing up in the middle of a very solemn official function and just yelling out, my brother's gay.

[Eric Marcus]

Coming up on Unfit for Service.

[Lucas]

The guests pouring in to the house. Randy is there taking credit for all of this work. And here I am going to a movie. I'm going to read a book in a parking lot, waiting the clock to go by.

[Eric Marcus]

This year I will work with Congress and our military to finally repeal the law that denies gay Americans the right.

[Randy]

To serve the country they love because.

[US Cellular Advertiser]

Of who they are.

[Eric Marcus]

It's the right thing to do.

[Randy]

What if we could just live like other people? What if we could just introduce ourselves to the neighbors, invite them over for dinner? What if we. We could just go to the grocery store together? What if we could just have a birthday party and invite people over? So what if.

[Eric Marcus]

Unfit for Service is a production of Waveland and Vespucci and is hosted by me, Eric Marcus. For Waveland, the executive producer is Jason Hoke. For Vespucci, the executive producers are Daniel Turkin and Johnny Galvin. The series producer is Rachel Byrne. The story editors are Matt Willis and Thomas Curry with additional script editing by Sara Burningham. Thomas Curry is the managing producer. Audio recording by Katherine Cook at CDM Sound Studios. Sound design by Arlie Adlington and Alex Portfelix. Audio mix by Alex Portfelix. Follow Waveland on Instagram at Waveland Media. If you love the show, please don't forget to leave a review and make sure you tell your friends. Thanks for listening.

[US Cellular Advertiser]

Gifting is hard, but here's a Give the gift of connection from US Cellular. Not sure what that means. Here's a slightly more specific hint. You can choose four free phones and get four lines for $90 a month from US Cellular. Your family wants new phones? How do we know? They told us. The good news is that compared to wrapping presents, you're great at getting hints. So take the hint and get them. Four free phones and four lines for $90 a month. US Cellular built for us.

[Walmart Advertiser]

Want to shop Walmart Black Friday deals first? Walmart plus members get early access to our hottest deals. Join now and get 50% off a one year annual membership. Shop Black Friday deals first with Walmart plus seed [e-mail].