Master Chief Clay Berkeley, USN, Zone Supervisor, Naval Recruiting District Big Otter, West Virginia, a highly decorated fair, firm leader, is concerned with the well being of his recruiters. He does not fully subscribe to the recruiting command's party line and his dislike of mandated recruiting techniques cause conflict with the chief recruiter and commodore.

He is a confirmed bachelor, but his 'love 'em and leave 'em -- girl in every port' lifestyle is threatened when the tiny, twelve-year younger Patricia Lane Patterson crosses his bow. She is so different in demeanor that Clay is intrigued, despite that she is not as comely as most of his previous women. Her unmistakable innocence leads him to suspect she is a virgin whose knowledge of birth control involves avoiding cabbage patches. This worries Clay such that he has no intention of establishing an amorous relationship for fear of producing a wood's colt. His efforts are stymied by Patty's scheming. He ponders the possibility that Patty can read minds and might well rank with Sir Winston Churchill in stubbornness.