When Haoran was diagnosed with leukemia, his family was devastated. But Haoran's lively spirit never faltered. Like many young boys, Haoran loves playing with Legos and dinosaurs and spending time with his friends and family. He also loves soccer. Haoran's favorite thing to do, though, is read books about tanks and fighter planes.

After reading a book about the military and being fascinated by their heroic actions, Haoran's ultimate wish was to be a Marine. "When I first met Haoran, I was drawn to his adventurous spirit," says his wish granter, Esther. When Haoran learned his wish was granted, "He was jumping on the couch. [He] was very excited. He was in disbelief. We created a dossier to show him he's going on a mission to be a Marine, and he took that and just ran off."

With the help from the Marines at Camp Pendleton in San Diego, Haoran and his family headed out on his birthday for his own military experience. He met with several Marines, who gave him and his family their own personal tour of Camp Pendleton. He tried on military gear and, of course, explored the inside of a tank and military aircraft.

"It's great to know that I helped create some of the memories and smiles from his time at Camp Pendleton," says Captain Gabe Adibe, U.S. Marine Corps. "People often see the Marines as fierce warriors, which we are, but we are also men and women who thrive on making a difference and helping others. I'm glad I was able to play a small part in Haoran's big day."