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By Jade Mingus
KCEN/NBC News Channel

BELL COUNTY, TX -- A young Texas boy fighting cancer saw his dreams come true Thursday at Fort Hood Army base when he had the chance to play soldier for the day. Gaven Cox, 5, is battling A-L-L a form of leukemia. The Make a Wish Foundation and the 1st Cavalry Division worked together to give the young trooper a taste of military life.

"He's going to do all the things we do, and try to encompass as much as we can in one day," Staff Sergeant Chris Maust with the 1st Cavalry Division said.

After Cox got his gear, it was time to roll out to his first mission at the 1st Cavalry Horse Detachment.

Cox's mother Melissa said her son has been looking forward to the special day, even though it was his second choice.

"First, I asked him what he wished for, and he said, 'McDonalds'," Melissa said. When he found out he could have more, he decided to be an American hero.

"I'd like Gaven to have fun; forget that he's sick for a little bit. He wants to be a soldier so bad," Melissa said.

After checking out some weapons and finding time to mess with his sister, Cox was on to his next assignment in a helicopter simulator. That's where Cox learned to fly, shoot at the enemy and talk to his brother, Chandler, on headset.

After several successful missions 1st Cavalry troops held a ceremony to honorably discharge Cox from his time in the Army. Gaven is receiving cancer treatment from the Children's Medical Center in Dallas near his home in Crandall, Texas. He was diagnosed with leukemia on December 1st.