Brian, a then five-year-old boy in Belleville, Illinois, whose father serves in the Air Force, turned to his neighbor Dean Cravens for help in doing things that he usually does with his dad, like yard work.

Back in 2017, Air Force Captain Dan Kelly learned that he was going to be deployed to Syria for 6 months. While only a short deployment, Captain Kelly’s wife, Barbara, said that their then 5-year-old son Brian took it very hard.

As Brian counted down the days until his dad returned from Syria, he approached his neighbor, Dean Cravens, about if he could help him do yard work around the Cravens household.

When Brian asked Dean if he could help him with his outdoor chores, Dean was a little apprehensive, feeling that he should not have a child do his yard work for him.

When Brian explained that he liked to do yard work with his dad and that he missed him very much, Dean instantly felt sympathy for the young boy and the two set out to get some tools.

Since then, Brian and Dean have become great friends, mowing their lawns together, and doing other tasks outdoors. Barbara is incredibly grateful that Dean stepped up to be a father figure to her young son. While the two knew each other before Dan’s deployment, Brian and Dean have become inseparable since working outside together.

Speaking with ABC News, Barbara says that Dean never turns Brian down when he wants to go outside and do chores. Barbara also says that young Brian loves working outside and the brand John Deere in particular. Before his deployment, Brian gifted his father a John Deere shirt that he regularly wears on their video calls.

As Brian and Dean’s story made the rounds on social media, reporters asked Dean why he spends so much time with Brian, pointing out that he has a family of his own and a fulltime job.

Dean jokes that while he could find lots of other things to do, he feels that spending time with Brian is important because it puts a smile on the young boy’s face and makes him happy.

When Dan returned from Syria, he expressed his thanks to Dean for looking out for his son when he was serving his country. It made Dan particularly happy that his son has such a positive role model in his life.

While Brian now putters around after Dan in their own yard, Dean promises that Brian can come to his house anytime if the young boy ever needs anything.

In sum, Brian and Dean’s story shows that a person does not have to do too much to help the families of those serving in the military. When Dan went overseas, Dean became a father figure to Brian, bringing joy to the young boy’s life.

What do you think of Brian and Dean’s story? How do you show your support for our men and women in uniform? Tell us in the comments and pass this story on to your friends and loved ones.