Hello everyone,

I’m putting this GoFundMe together for my best friend, David Dean. He’s far too proud to ever ask for help himself, but he’s hands down one of the best people I’ve ever known — the kind of person who would truly give you the shirt off his back, his last dollar, or go hungry to make sure you didn’t.

I met Dave back in June 2011 as we were getting ready to start a six-month school together. Our friendship didn’t exactly start smoothly, but over time it grew into something I honestly couldn’t do justice to with words. It’s been the kind of friendship that becomes family.

Since I’ve known him, Dave has faced more than his fair share of challenges — losing his mother, going through a difficult divorce (while always being there for his children), and navigating many other personal struggles that I won’t share here out of respect for his privacy. Through it all, he has continued to serve his country with dedication and humility as a proud Marine and DoD's Finest. He’s an amazing father, husband, and the best friend anyone could hope for.

Recently, Dave’s had a rough run of luck. His car’s transmission failed — an unexpected repair costing over $6,000 — all while he’s been away on temporary duty (TDY). On top of that, he’s been making frequent trips back and forth to care for his father, who after a long and courageous battle with cancer, sadly passed away last night.

Dave’s doing his best to stay strong and juggle everything life is throwing at him right now, but I know he could use some help. He would never ask for it himself — in fact, he’ll probably be mad at me for doing this — but I can’t just sit by and watch my best friend struggle. I’m hoping that with a little support from those who care, we can help lift some of the burden off his shoulders.

As soon as arrangements for his father’s service are finalized, I’ll update this page with the details. The service will be held in Dickson, TN.

Thank you all for taking the time to read this — and for anything you can do to help Dave and his family during this incredibly difficult time.

Derek (DJ) Howard