Many veterans seek out the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Hospital in hopes of feeling better. Thanks to Anthony Bravo Esparza (R) — known to his friends as “Dreamer” — those veterans often end up looking better, too.

Since the 1970s, Dreamer, a veteran himself, has been giving free haircuts to vets.

He can be found in a red, white, and blue painted trailer parked at the VA, where he averages about 200 haircuts a month.
The trailer where "Dreamer" gives free haircuts to veterans in Los Angeles, CA . Photo courtesy of Paula Berger.

In 2011, Paul Crowley (L) showed up looking for a trim. Today, he’s Dreamer’s assistant.

At StoryCorps, the pair sat down to speak about their friendship.

Originally aired February 24, 2012, on NPR’s Morning Edition.