Thank you for the opportunity to share information about my wonderful son Spc. Dustin Deans.

Dustin joined the National Guard 1½ years ago, at that point never dreaming he would end up in Iraq. He thought that he would be defending the United States on our shores. 

He had been in college for 3 years and still had not decided what he wanted to do with the rest of his life.  All thru High School his goal was to be a major league baseball player and a pharmacist as a back up career.

Dustin graduated from high school in the top 1% of his class with honors while playing baseball all 4 years as a catcher and received Defensive player of the year all 4 years.  He was hoping that the military would give him some direction, since professional baseball seemed out of the question and pharmacy seemed pretty mundane.  

Since joining the National Guard, Dustin has found a direction and has changed his major to forensics and criminal justice which he will be resuming when he returns from Iraq. 

In his communication to me the past few days, he says the highlight of his tour is playing soccer with the Iraqi children and how much in need they are for fun and that interaction. 

Although we pray for Dustin and all the troops daily, we see so much maturity, growth and direction in him.  We are so blessed to have him in our family; he brings so much joy and pride to us. 

A proud mother of a US solider. 

Raelene Deans