
Temperatures and tensions rise as Randy is deployed to the desert. Surrounded by landmines, shifting sands and circling vultures, Randy struggles to keep his relationship a secret.
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Lucas
Lucas and I and we were fueling each other, encouraging each other and convincing convincing each other that we can make this work.
Randy
It's 1997, less than a year after Major Randy Taylor and his boyfriend Lucas first meet. They're on a plane to the Middle East.
Lucas
We were blinded by love and the love became more important than the risk. The consequence. We knew that we had to mitigate the risk as best we could, but we couldn't be paralyzed by this potential worst case scenario that we Would be discovered.
Randy
Randy's been assigned to a peacekeeping mission in Egypt. And despite living under don't ask, don't tell, the military's policy that forbids American soldiers from engaging in gay relationships, Lucas is going along with him. They agree that their best chance is seeing each other, is for Lucas to live in Israel, across the desert from Randy's posting in Egypt. But they have no idea how they're going to make this work.
Lucas
We got to Israel and we just started talking to people and asking around.
Randy
They learn about a possible solution, A kind of cooperative farm called a kibbutz.
Lucas
And as long as you did a hard day's work, they put you up and they'd feed you.
Kathy
We were advised that there was this one kibbutz down in the southern part of Israel that was really well known for its dairy products and they needed people.
Randy
This kibbutz was looking for volunteers and it was the right location. About four hours away from Randy, Close enough to drive far enough to be discreet. On their last night together, for who knows how long, Randy and Lucas prepare to step into the unknown.
Eric Marcus
We were in the hotel room, we had just finished dinner and we were sitting on the couch and I looked at Randy and I said, I love you. And he said, I love you too. And that was the first time that we had expressed that to each other. And it was the first time I had ever told another individual that I loved them in a romantic way.
Kathy
I definitely surrendered to our relationship and this newfound love. And I was willing to risk it all for that. And I was willing to. I don't know how to describe it, Just to do anything, to do anything for it.
Randy
The next morning, they drive to the kibbutz.
Eric Marcus
I had my hand on his hand, which was on the gear shift. And I was looking straight ahead, thinking about what was to come, Preparing myself that Randy was getting ready to leave me in a kibbutz and he was going to another country. I had memorized his Social Security number. I had an open ended plane ticket. I had $500 in cash. I had scuba gear and I had a bag of clothes. And that's everything I had.
Randy
Lucas is fighting back the tears. He wants to be strong for Randy. The kibbutz comes into view. A group of small buildings in an oasis surrounded by desert and mountains. As they pull into the parking lot, Lucas heart is racing.
Eric Marcus
There's no one there. This time of the day at the kibbutz was very empty of people. And he kind of talks to me in the car a bit. He leans over, he gives me a kiss and he says, you know, I have to get going. So I got out of the car and opened the trunk and I grabbed my scuba gear and my bag of clothes and he backs the car up. I've got the kibbutz behind me and I'm facing him. I'm standing in the parking lot and I'm looking around. I'm in the middle of the neck of desert. It is in July, middle of the day. The temperatures were in excess of 110 degrees. I'm in the driest environment I've ever been in my life and I immediately swell up and begin to cry because I realize the only person I know on this side of the planet is driving away.
Lucas
I felt guilty because I didn't know we had no way of knowing what that would be like for him that day. The next day, the next week, I saw the love of my life willing to wait uncertainly, wait for my return whenever it could be. It was a nervous 22 year old that was fighting back the tears. But I saw really my whole life right there with him and his two suitcases just getting smaller and smaller as I drove away.
Eric Marcus
So I quickly dry my tears, clear my throat, grab my bags, turn around and I check myself into the kibbutz.
Randy
I'm Eric Marcus and from Waveland and Vespucci. This is unfit for service. Episode 4 Mineland.
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Randy
Leaving Lucas behind, Randy makes the long drive to Egypt alone. He signs in at the base. It's time to meet his new boss.
Lucas
Colonel is the chief of staff for the camp reporting to this colonel who was a seasoned, very senior colonel. There was quite a difference in age and experience between us and it was a big job I was stepping into. But my mind was at that point still preoccupied with Lucas's well being. How's he doing? How will I be able to. To reach out to him again? The Colonel wanted to see me, and right away he started grilling me on what I'd been doing since I left the United States.
Randy
The Colonel wants to know what Randy was doing before he got to the base, asking where he's been, who he's been with.
Lucas
And I push back just reflexively because I wasn't going to talk about any details or personal in nature. So I told him, hey, I took the week off in Israel and toured around and, and here I am and let's get to work. And he didn't want to hear that from a young major because he wanted to pry further. And so he abruptly screamed out, take your attitude out the gate and leave it there and come back in.
Randy
It's a disastrous start. Randy needs the Colonel to like him, to be on his side, to trust him, and not to ask too many questions. But right from the get go, Randy's new boss is eyeing him with suspicion.
Kathy
He certainly didn't realize at the time why I had to be so guarded. But the more he pressed me, the more I resisted.
Randy
The interaction leaves Randy shaken, especially because there's something familiar about this guy, how he dominates his anger, his particular brand of masculinity. The Colonel reminds Randy of his abusive stepfather, Fred.
Kathy
So it was that kind of Persona, a big guy, you know, muscular, really tried to, you know, push his weight around. And so he was one of these guys that was always trying to make a man out of everybody else.
Lucas
He's the kind of guy that if somebody didn't perform, he'd. He'd wave a limp wrist, you know, to the crowd or to the whatever, just to signal that, hey, that guy's not being man enough. Yeah, if there's, you know, a photo in the dictionary next to bigotry in the military, I think you'd see his butcher. It felt like being home again. It really did.
Randy
But Randy's got to focus on his personal mission right now. He needs to turn things around and convince the Colonel that he's just one of the guys, get him to stop asking so many questions.
Lucas
I was afraid that the Colonel found out I was gay. Not only would I be discharged disgracefully as other service members were being discharged, then that in this environment, with his very exclusive and very remote control authority over everything that was going on at this camp that had very little outside supervision by the US Military, that he would make such an example out of me and make it as painful and as humiliating as anybody could Possibly get away with in the military immediately. I thought, if this is what it's going to be like, if I'm in the first five minutes of my time here now, feeling very cornered by someone that's going to be on my back, then how in the hell am I going to be able to reach out to Lucas? How is the next year going to go?
Eric Marcus
I'm picking mangoes and then I'm planting potatoes. And the days are just going by and I haven't heard from Randy.
Randy
Back at the kibbutz, Lucas is feeling the strain.
Eric Marcus
I am in a foreign country and the only person I know, I don't know how to get in touch with. And I don't know if I will ever hear from him again.
Randy
As sun rises, turn to sunset, turn to sunrises, Lucas keeps his head down, works hard in the fields and the punishing heat. The days feel endless.
Eric Marcus
And then I was given a message to go to the office. And when I walk into the office, they have a note for me. And they said, we have a note from your brother. And I just take a deep breath and I take the note and I open it up and it's a phone number and a time to call him.
Randy
The notes from Randy. He asks Lucas to call him that evening.
Eric Marcus
I was worried because part of me was still fearing that he was going to say, hey, I'm not going to be able to come see you. Things are not as I had hoped. You're going to have to get back on a plane and leave.
Randy
Minutes feel like hours. As dusk falls, Lucas sets out.
Eric Marcus
I went up to a hill high above the kibbutz. No one was up there at the time, and I knew there were payphones so I could have a conversation in private. So I went up and I called and the phone rang and Randy answered the phone. And it's just relief. He said, everything's all right. I think we should get together and see each other this coming weekend. We made a plan that we would get together the coming Saturday. And I remember when we hung up the phone, I turned and I faced Jordan and the rocks in the Nega desert. They kind of just become this very beautiful purple. And I just sat there for a few minutes and I'm looking out, and then it hits me. I'm seeing a moon rise and there's this big full moon and it's rising up over the desert and the light is just shining down. And I'm just happy because it's working. It's all falling into place.
Randy
When the weekend finally arrives, Lucas boards a bus to Eilat, a city at the southern tip of Israel on the Red Sea. On the other side of the desert, Randy gets ready to leave his secure compound.
Lucas
Signing out was a very detailed process. You have to fill out paperwork and then go through several security barriers where people are checking your paperwork and double checking it every step of the way when you leave, it's pretty well documented.
Randy
He's got his hands on a 4x4 truck and is ready to answer any questions about his plans for his weekend off.
Lucas
I had a very good explanation to leave, which is my interest in scuba diving and the fact that nearby was the Red Sea. And so that's.
Randy
That was the COVID Randy packs his scuba gear into the trunk and drives towards the first checkpoint and then through another, holding his breath. Each time.
Lucas
Each time I'm going through these intermediate checkpoints to leave the perimeter, I'm getting more and more nervous about this is going to be stopped, something's going to happen.
Randy
He's through the last checkpoint, driving away from the base and out into the desert before he allows himself to exhale. It's hundreds of miles from Randy's base to the Israeli border.
Lucas
So navigating the best I could, using the land, using the natural features around me, the terrain features, I could make my way there. But also watching the sun and having a compass and a general sense of direction, I could kind of guess my pace and how far I was advancing down this border. I've got one tank of gas, just enough food and water to be all right, but a lot of uncertainty.
Randy
It doesn't take long before Randy loses the trail beneath the shifting sands.
Lucas
What started as a paved road is now an impassable road with sand dunes that are 10, 20ft high.
Randy
And at this point, Randy doesn't know that the desert around him is littered with landmines.
Lucas
When I look to the distance, especially to the west, that the dunes look.
Randy
Like mountains, he's forced to drive around the dunes unaware of the unexploded ordinance beneath the sand. If only he could catch sight of the horizon again, find his bearings.
Lucas
What I think is just described small detour around some sand dunes and on the pay road eventually takes me more and more off the trail. And at some point this gets confusing. The sun is high in the sky at this point and so it's really not clear to distinguish by the sun alone the direction. I've got a compass, but it's still, you know, just another reference point. I'm trying to get back to what I think will be a paved road that continues further south.
Randy
But now Randy has a bigger problem. With each spin of his wheels, the 4x4 is sinking.
Lucas
And here I am in the Sinai desert, just about high noon now, stuck up to my axles in sand.
Randy
Randy has a radio, but he can't call for help, not if he ever wants to get off base again to see Lucas.
Lucas
I've got a small shovel in my truck, and I just basically started digging my way out, which was not very helpful because you dig a hole in sand, it just fills up with sand. There's absolutely no one in sight. And I'm thinking, how long can this go on? And I look up in the sky, and now vultures are circling overhead, and there's really no wildlife to be seen. I mean, the wildlife is pretty much hidden in the desert, but all of a sudden, they're interested in me. It seemed to come from nowhere, and their numbers are growing. Where did they come from? And how do they know I'm here? And they start circling lower and lower. And just watching as I'm digging away, I'm thinking, this is like a movie. This is like a really bad scene in the movie. So I dig and I dig for at least two hours. My hands are nearly bloody. And in between digging and getting back in the vehicle and rocking it forward in reverse, just trying different angles and then putting different pieces of material under the tires to build some traction, I finally, finally was able to get out, clear out of that sand trap, and then eventually find my way to a hard enough surface to continue the journey south.
Randy
By now, Lucas has arrived in a lot, and he's waiting outside the hotel, their agreed meeting point. He checks his watch. Randy's late. People come and go, but Lucas waits and waits and waits. The longer time drags on, the more his mind races. Where is Randy? Did he decide not to come? Or worse, did someone or something stop him? But then a 4x4 truck turns into the parking lot. It's covered in sand. It's almost impossible to see through the dusty windshield. As the truck stops and its door opens, Lucas is willing it to be Randy. Whoever this is, he's a mess.
Eric Marcus
He gets out of the truck, and he is just covered in dust and sand. He's filthy. That's to say the least, he was filthy. I remember when he shut the door, like dust was falling from it.
Randy
Of course, it's Randy.
Eric Marcus
And I walk up to him and we just pug.
Randy
But it's a chaste, brotherly hug. They're on high alert. Just in case anyone is watching, Randy goes into the hotel, checks in and comes back out to tell Lucas the room number. Lucas waits a few moments before entering the hotel and walking down the hallway to their room, he knocks on the door. Randy opens it.
Eric Marcus
As soon as the door closes, Randy gives me a very passionate kiss and he goes in and he takes his clothes off and showers and I wait with anticipation.
Lucas
We hardly left the hotel room until.
Kathy
To go back to camp the next day. We just didn't want to be a part or really make room for anything but being with each other.
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Randy
Months pass and Randy's trips from Egypt to Israel become almost routine. The journeys are still treacherous, but Randy's perfected his route. He and Lucas tour Israel together and scuba dive in the Red Sea. But back at the base, Randy's still having problems with the Colonel.
Kathy
He took it upon himself to essentially break me as best he could that I would just submit to his will.
Randy
The Colonel's determined to mold Randy into one of the boys just like him.
Kathy
He expected you to hang out with them and hang out with the guys. And so I really didn't have any interest in spending, you know, personal time with him any more than I had to. And so it really, he made me more and more of an outsider because socially everyone else played along and gave up their personal time to play, you know, sports with them. But I wasn't having it.
Randy
Randy's got his head down focusing on his work. He mostly keeps to himself. But then he meets Kathy. Kathy works for the State Department as an official peace watcher. She provides support to international troops stationed in the area. She's a part time fitness instructor on the base and as it turns out, loves to scuba dive too.
Colonel
There's just this freedom under the sea that's quite, quite remarkable. You're floating. You essentially are weightless. You know, you're looking for other stuff around you and depending on what you like, what gets you jazzed, you know, there's coral, there's fish, there's the wrecks. So there's all kinds of things to see.
Randy
Randy and Kathy take full advantage of the nearby diving opportunities. Their friendship blossoms.
Colonel
You literally could drive out to certain parts of the Sinai Desert, to the edge the beach, put your gear on, jump off into the water and be up close with the wildlife. You didn't even have to swim out. And for a diver, that's like candy. That's amazing. You know, she was hard to keep up with.
Kathy
She had a very strong kick when she was diving and then a lot of power behind it. She was just built for scuba diving.
Lucas
That was our favorite activity to get.
Kathy
Across the border and do some great.
Lucas
Diving in the Red Sea area.
Randy
The more time they spend together, the more Randy thinks Kathy might be someone he can confide in. He tells Kathy about his weekend trips to Israel, says he meets up with a buddy there to go diving. Maybe Kathy should join them.
Kathy
Sometimes I could tell that she was very discreet and very level headed. She didn't, you know, run her mouth. She wasn't the chatty type. I could also tell that she and most of her colleagues that were there with the State Department were very much of a live and let live kind of character, which I think came from a perspective gain by traveling the world. And so that helped build the trust between us where I felt like I could confide and she could confide with me.
Randy
After one of their dives in Israel, Randy introduces Kathy to his buddy Lucas. The three of them spend time together, talking, playing cards, drinking beer. Then one afternoon at the beach, Randy and Lucas decide to let Kathy in on their secret.
Colonel
I was lounging on a beach chair, reading or something like that, and. And Randy was on a chair a little like a few yards down from me, just lounging. And Lucas was there. And all of a sudden I heard my name. Hey, Kathy. And I looked over and Lucas was standing over Randy behind. And he just. He didn't say anything. He just bent down, bent over and kissed Randy on the mouth and said, we're gay. It felt like it was done for the shock value. I just said, okay, and turned back and started reading again or whatever I was doing. Like, I didn't react at all, right. I just was like, okay, tell me more.
Randy
Kathy plays it cool, but she is surprised. Until that kiss, she had no idea.
Colonel
Did I suspect he was gay? No, not at all.
Randy
It didn't take long for Kathy to embrace her new role as Randy and Lucas confidant.
Colonel
What's the term? A fag hag. I mean, it was super ironic that I was in this, you know, camp with 2,000 men and I end up with a bunch of gay guys who saw that coming. Some of my favorite parts of those dive trips were actually the drive to and from where we were going because it was several hours drive either way. But we used to have. We had a CD player in the SUV's and we all had our favorite CDs to play. Mine was Alanis Morissette. His was George Michael.
Randy
What began with Randy and Kathy's shared love for scuba diving evolves into something more meaningful. A deep and trusting friendship.
Colonel
And I just always had this camaraderie with Randy, this feeling of friendship and camaraderie, because I think he keeps my. He would keep my secrets too, if I had any secrets. Randy was very capable of taking care of himself, but I think it was more a feeling of, I want to, I guess, protect your career and protect you from any harm caused by revealing something about yourself that you don't want to reveal yourself. I will follow your lead, basically.
Randy
But there's still someone Kathy can't protect Randy from. The Colonel.
Lucas
I felt the Colonel was trying to make a case against me. And one potential way for him to do that was actually phone tapping, the conversations that I eventually had with Lucas.
Kathy
So at any moment, if the Colonel wanted a phone conversation secretly monitored, he could have gone to one of my telephone operators and said, hey, I want to listen to this.
Randy
Coming up on Unfit for Service.
Eric Marcus
I don't make eye contact with anyone. I don't look up at Randy. I am just another face in the crowd that walked straight by.
Kathy
Lucas called me on the phone, said, you got to see this. So I went to television and watch the news play in real time. And then we all just prepared as if we were going to war.
Eric Marcus
It was just the two of us, and the other half of me was going away.
Randy
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 friend. Friends, thanks for listening.
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Unfit For Service: Episode 4 - Mineland
Release Date: November 4, 2024
Hosted by Eric Marcus | Produced by Wavland and Vespucci
Introduction
In the fourth episode of Unfit For Service, titled "Mineland," listeners delve deeper into the harrowing and poignant journey of Randy Taylor, a soldier navigating the treacherous waters of secrecy, isolation, and forbidden love within the confines of the United States Army. This episode intensifies the narrative, highlighting Randy's relentless pursuit to maintain his relationship with Lucas amidst mounting personal and professional challenges.
1. A Fragile Beginning
The episode opens in 1997, less than a year after Randy Taylor and Lucas first meet. As they embark on a plane to the Middle East, their bond is immediately palpable.
Despite the oppressive "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, Lucas accompanies Randy on his peacekeeping mission in Egypt, deciding to live discreetly in Israel to sustain their relationship.
2. The Kibbutz Solution
Upon arriving in Israel, Randy and Lucas seek a way to remain together without raising suspicions. Their search leads them to a kibbutz—a cooperative farm community—that offers them accommodation in exchange for hard labor.
On their last night before parting ways to settle into their respective locations, emotions run high as they prepare for the uncertain future.
3. The Treacherous Journey
Randy embarks on a perilous drive to Egypt, aiming to blend into his new environment while maintaining his covert relationship with Lucas. The journey is fraught with anxiety and unforeseen obstacles.
As Randy navigates the Sinai Desert, he encounters shifting sands and hidden landmines, exacerbating the dangers of his clandestine movements.
Randy's struggle becomes more intense as he becomes stuck in the desert, battling both the environment and his own fears.
4. Reunion and Resilience
After overcoming significant challenges, Randy successfully reaches Israel and reunites with Lucas at their predetermined meeting point. However, the reunion is bittersweet, marked by exhaustion and the ever-present threat of discovery.
Their embrace is cautious yet laden with unspoken emotions, highlighting the constant vigilance required to keep their relationship hidden.
5. Building Trust Amidst Suspicion
Randy's interactions with his authoritative Colonel intensify, showcasing the toxic environment that exacerbates his sense of isolation.
To find solace, Randy befriends Kathy, a State Department official and fellow scuba enthusiast, who becomes a crucial confidante.
Their shared passion for scuba diving provides a rare reprieve from the pervasive tension at the base.
6. The Strain of Secrecy
As months pass, Randy's covert trips between Egypt and Israel become routine, but the constant vigilance takes its toll on both him and Lucas. The Colonel's oppressive presence looms over their every move, threatening to expose their secret.
The couple's relationship is further tested when Randy introduces Kathy to Lucas, leading to a pivotal moment where Lucas publicly acknowledges their relationship.
7. Heightened Tensions and Unseen Threats
Despite the growing support from Kathy, the ever-watchful Colonel remains a significant threat. Suspicion and potential surveillance heighten the stakes, leaving Randy and Lucas in a precarious position.
The episode crescendos with an impending sense of danger, setting the stage for future confrontations and revelations.
Conclusion
"Mineland" masterfully intertwines personal narratives with the broader themes of love, secrecy, and resilience amidst adversity. Through Randy and Lucas's journey, the episode underscores the profound sacrifices made in the name of duty and love. As tensions escalate and the threat of exposure looms, listeners are left eager to witness the unfolding of Randy's harrowing tale in subsequent episodes.
Notable Quotes with Timestamps
Final Thoughts
Unfit For Service: Mineland is a compelling installment that deepens the emotional and psychological layers of Randy and Lucas's story. Through evocative storytelling and vivid character portrayals, the episode captures the essence of their struggle, making it an unmissable chapter in this powerful series.