In 2017, Air Force Captain Dan Kelly received news that he would be deployed to Syria for six months. While it was a short deployment, Dan’s wife Barbara noticed that their five-year-old son, Brian, was taking it badly. Brian counted down the days until his father’s return and approached his neighbor, Dean Cravens, for help with the garden around Dean’s house.
At first, Dean was hesitant to allow a young boy to do yard work for him, but when Brian explained that he missed working in the yard with his father and enjoys being outside, Dean felt sympathy for the little boy. They gathered some tools and started working together.
Since then, Brian and Dean have become great friends, mowing lawns and completing outdoor errands together. Barbara is grateful for Dean’s presence in her son’s life, and the two have become inseparable since working together overseas.
Brian loves working outside and has a particular fondness for John Deere brand equipment. He even gifted his father a John Deere shirt to wear on their video calls. Dean never turns Brian down when he wants to work outside, and he finds spending time with the young boy to be important because it makes him happy.
When Dan returned from Syria, he thanked Dean for looking out for his son while he was serving his country. Dan was especially happy that his son had such a positive role model in his life. Brian now follows his father around the yard, and Dean has promised him that he can come to his house anytime he needs anything.
In conclusion, Brian and Dean’s story shows that even small acts of kindness can have a significant impact on the families of those serving in the military. When Dan was overseas, Dean became a father figure to Brian and brought joy to the young boy’s life. Their friendship is a heartwarming reminder of the importance of community and support.
