Lance Corporal Myles Kerr was nowhere in sight of his fellow marines when they finished the 5K race at the Venetian Festival in Charlevoix, Mich., this past Saturday.

Finally, the 19-year-old marine emerged from the final stretch, but with a new partner, nine-year-old Brandon Fuchs, who was separated from his group at some point in the race and had asked Kerr, "Sir, will you please run with me?"

Kerr eventually finished the race at 34.53 minutes — five seconds behind Fuchs and the slowest in his age group, the Huffington Post reported. But none of that mattered to Kerr who told one of his many new Twitter fans, "I was just doing what any man would do, but thank you!"

To show their appreciation for Kerr's selfless act, Brandon's parent gave Kerr a $100 gift card to a local restaurant that he graciously accepted.

The parents of the little boy I ran with gave me $100 gift card to Grey Gables Restaurant #godbless

— Myles M. Kerr (@Myles_Kerr) July 31, 2013

A post on the Seal of Honor Facebook page was accompanied by a picture that shows a wearisome Brandon getting all the encouragement he needed from Kerr to finish the 5K.

The Facebook post, which has garnered over 200,000 likes and 40,000 shares, ended with, "By his unwavering commitment to help those in need through his ability to inspire others by his unequivocal level of motivation, Lcpl Kerr reflected great credit upon himself and was keeping in the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps."