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Obama, Q-C Marine reunite during education stump at BHC

Friday, April 1, 2005

By Kurt Allemeier
Moline Dispatch

MOLINE -- A Quad-Cities Marine mentioned prominently in Barack Obama's keynote address at the Democratic National Convention enjoyed a happy reunion Thursday with the freshman senator from Illinois.

Sen. Obama stopped at Black Hawk College to speak about his proposed legislation to increase Pell Grant payments from $4,050 per year to $5,100 per year. The bill, called the Higher Education Opportunity through Pell Grant Expansion, or Hope Act, would expand the Pell Grant program by $2 billion by closing loopholes on bank fees on student loans.

Sen. Obama and Cpl. Seamus Ahern of Silvis, assigned to the Marine Reserve unit at Rock Island Arsenal that returned March 15, reunited at the Black Hawk College stop. After a handshake and hug, the senator asked Cpl. Ahern to put on his uniform hat. Sen. Obama also warmly greeted Cpl. Tim Wright of Fulton, who serves in Cpl. Ahern's unit.

"You made it back safe and sound," Sen. Obama said, then told on-lookers, "I'm so happy to see this young man I've kept in contact with for the last year returned safe and sound."

Cpl. Ahern was preparing to ship out for Iraq when he met Sen. Obama during a campaign stop at the East Moline VFW in June 2004. Cpl. Ahern was trying to stay out of his way, but pushed by his brother, Dennis Ahern, into talking to the candidate and telling him his story.

A few weeks later, Cpl. Ahern was catapulted into the spotlight when the then-state senator recalled the meeting during his speech at the Boston convention.

"As I listened to him explain why he'd enlisted, his absolute faith in our country and its leaders, his devotion to duty and service, I thought this young man was all any of us might hope for in a child. But then I asked myself: Are we serving Seamus as well as he was serving us?" Sen. Obama said.

The comment didn't register right away since he was concerned with his impending deployment, Cpl. Ahern said. Since then, he's had time to let it sink in. "I was sort of paying attention, but I had other things on my mind," he said. "I'm really honored and proud of being mentioned."

They have kept up on each other since that summer, sharing occasional e-mails. Sen. Obama has mentioned Cpl. Ahern during town hall meetings, saying one e-mail opened with "I've been busy lately." Sen. Obama would tell the audience that was a good excuse, since Cpl. Ahern was in Fallujah fighting insurgents.

"He is going places," Cpl. Ahern said of the charismatic senator, "but he still seems like the same person. I am happy for him."

Cpl. Ahern, who is soon to be promoted to sergeant, is nearing the completion of his enlistment. He graduated from Loras College shortly before his deployment. He intends to apply to law school