Online romance??? sort of??? i need some insight!!! mature answers only plz!

Ok so I have been talking to this guy that i met in Myspace chat. now we talk on yahoo messenger ALL THE TIME! EVERYDAY! he is currently deployed to Iraq, and but comes back to the states in SEPT. and he's coming straight to the town I live in! we've talked on the phone and sent pictures and videos of eachother to eachother. its crazy but I feel like i've known him for a while. I know for sure there are feelings... BIG ones arising out of this... and I know you are probably thinking "ok so where's the problem" lol the problem is I just joined the military and 4 days after he gets here I ship out! He says we can still make things work, regardless of where I get stationed, but I'm skeptic, can the online thing really turn into a real and true relationship? and more or less can it turn into a successful LONG distance relationship? hmmmm.... i'm interested in your thoughts and opinions! thank you!