Barack Obama

Silvis Marine greets Obama at Black Hawk

Friday, April 1, 2005

QUAD CITY TIMES
By Ed Tibbetts

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., got a surprise Thursday at Black Hawk College.

At the community college campus in Moline to push his plan for boosting Pell Grants, the freshman senator walked into a roomful of people and was greeted by Cpl. Seamus Ahern.

The 24-year-old Marine from Silvis made such an impression on Obama that he mentioned him in his keynote speech during the Democratic National Convention last summer.

Cpl. Seamus Ahern of Silvis paid a visit to U.S. Sen. Barack Obama at Black Hawk College where the
senator spoke in favor of increasing Pell Grant

The speech played a key role in making Obama a political star.

"How you doing, buddy?" Obama said, embracing the tall Marine as he walked into the room. It was the first time they had seen each other since meeting last year. "You made it back. You look great."

Obama and Ahern met during a campaign stop in May at the East Moline VFW post. Ahern, whose unit is based on Arsenal Island, was on the cusp of shipping out for Iraq. At the time, Obama faced a tough Senate race.

Barely three months later, Obama's Republican opponent had dropped out and he was tapped to give the keynote address at the party's convention by presidential nominee U.S. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.

In the speech, Obama spoke of Ahern's commitment to his country and asked whether the nation was as committed to its servicemen and women, noting the financial hardships some service families and returning soldiers have experienced.

A lot has changed since that day. Obama easily won election and has been making his way in Washington, D.C. Ahern, who served in Fallujah for seven months, finished his tour of duty and returned home just two weeks ago.

On Thursday, Obama publicly recognized Ahern as well as a comrade, Cpl. Tim Wright of Fulton, Ill., and Ahern's parents, too.

"The opportunity to see him here in Moline was really gratifying," the senator said later. "He just continues to impress me as a terrific young man."

The two did not lose touch over the past year. They corresponded by e-mail while Ahern was serving in Iraq.

At times, Obama said, Ahern, in the middle of a war zone, would apologize for not writing back immediately, saying he had been busy. "I'd have to write back and say, 'Seamus, it's OK,'" the senator added.

Ahern said Thursday that he was honored to have been mentioned in Obama's convention speech and expects great things from the senator from Chicago.

"I feel honored that I had the privilege to meet him at the beginning of his political career," he added.

Ahern, who is due to be promoted today, said now that he has returned home, he intends to further his education by applying to law school.

That made an impression on Obama, too. The senator said he hopes to be helpful to the prospective law student.

It will be a nice connection to have. Obama is the former editor of the Harvard Law Review, the first African-American to hold that position.