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It's not easy being in a long-distance relationship, especially if your significant other is serving overseas in the armed forces. But one soldier's girlfriend and family have come up with a novel temporary solution: a cardboard cutout of him that she takes along nearly everywhere.

Staff Sgt. Patrick Thomas is a pararescueman in the Air Force. It's a dangerous and elite job that requires him to jump out of airplanes and go on solo rescue missions in territory where he is infrequently welcome.

Needless to say, his girlfriend, Anne, and his family both miss and worry about him terribly. His mom sends him so many care packages that she's on a first-name basis at the post office, but his sister came up with a much more creative idea while texting Patrick's girlfriend one night.

The two had become very close, communicating frequently about how much they missed Patrick. His sister jokingly suggested that Anne carry a life-size cardboard cutout of him with her everywhere. Instantly the two realized it was a brilliant idea and began making plans to take pictures of Patrick in wacky situations so he could see himself at home with his girlfriend and his family. Their name for the caper? "Operation Perk Up Patrick."

Anne has taken Patrick with her to the beach; he greeted her when she arrived at the airport, where they were met with suspicious glances until people found out what was happening; they've gone to the forest; and he's been groped by old ladies. He even met cardboard cutout President Obama, which is quite an honor for a cardboard cutout. She's going to all his favorite vacation spots, taking pictures, then sending them to him a few at a time, and he loves it.

The best part of all? "He doesn't talk back, he doesn't argue," says Anne. With a boyfriend like that it might be hard to go back to the real thing when he gets home.

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