------
JOHN AHEARN Obituary
John L. Ahearn of Phoenix, Arizona passed away on Wednesday evening, June 23 at the age of 89. A deeply loved husband, father, grandfather and cherished friend to many, John was the oldest of three brothers and was born on November 30, 1914 in Brooklyn New York. John joined the Army before Pearl Harbor, and earned the command of C Company of the 70th Tank Battalion, the only tank unit to participate in the landings in North Africa, Sicily and Normandy. His was the first tank unit to land on Utah Beach on D-Day, his own tank the second to hit the beach. Penetrating inland, he permitted troops and equipment to move off the beach, and captured a defense position and dozens of prisoners. After his tank was disabled from a mine, he lost his legs while attempting to rescue two wounded American servicemen. He was nominated for the Medal of Honor and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star and the Purple Heart. John moved West after rehabilitating, married his first wife Helen and had his first child, Mary. After being widowed, he met and married Irene, his wife of 49 years. He earned his undergraduate degree from Arizona State University and his law degree from the University of Arizona. Inspired by John F. Kennedy, John began a long and distinguished public service career, including becoming the Chairman of the Industrial Commission, a member of the Corporation Commission, the Democratic nominee for Congress and Arizona Attorney General, and he was instrumental in the formation of the Residential Utility Consumer Office. His warmth, generosity, keen wit and Irish charm will be greatly missed. He is adored always by his wife Irene, his children Mary, Stephen, Denise, Kathleen, John and Michael, grandchildren Christine, Andrea, Gabriel, Alejandro and Kevin, and sons-in-law Richard Lee, Geronimo Ramirez, Jr. and Jeff Johnson. A visitation will be held Monday, June 28 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Hansen Chapel, 8314 N. 7th Street. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, June 29 at 10 a.m. at St. Francis Xavier church, 4715 N. Central Avenue in Phoenix. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Interfaith Cooperative Ministries (602-254-7450).
(Source: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/azcentral/name/john-ahearn-obituary?id=6976902)

Also, a description of how wounded Capt. Ahearn's life was saved on D-Day by a *young medic, is featured in "Beyond Band of Brothers: The War Memoirs of Major Dick Winters" (2006, Berkley Caliber Books, p.90)

Coincidentally, that life-saving *young medic who picked up and carried Ahearn to safety also would become a prominent lawyer. It was Elliott Richardson, who rose to become the Attorney General of the U.S! His rescue of John Ahearn can also be found on Richardson's memorial page #1946

(Bio contribution by Marc Wallace #47313649)

------
JOHN AHEARN Obituary
John L. Ahearn of Phoenix, Arizona passed away on Wednesday evening, June 23 at the age of 89. A deeply loved husband, father, grandfather and cherished friend to many, John was the oldest of three brothers and was born on November 30, 1914 in Brooklyn New York. John joined the Army before Pearl Harbor, and earned the command of C Company of the 70th Tank Battalion, the only tank unit to participate in the landings in North Africa, Sicily and Normandy. His was the first tank unit to land on Utah Beach on D-Day, his own tank the second to hit the beach. Penetrating inland, he permitted troops and equipment to move off the beach, and captured a defense position and dozens of prisoners. After his tank was disabled from a mine, he lost his legs while attempting to rescue two wounded American servicemen. He was nominated for the Medal of Honor and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star and the Purple Heart. John moved West after rehabilitating, married his first wife Helen and had his first child, Mary. After being widowed, he met and married Irene, his wife of 49 years. He earned his undergraduate degree from Arizona State University and his law degree from the University of Arizona. Inspired by John F. Kennedy, John began a long and distinguished public service career, including becoming the Chairman of the Industrial Commission, a member of the Corporation Commission, the Democratic nominee for Congress and Arizona Attorney General, and he was instrumental in the formation of the Residential Utility Consumer Office. His warmth, generosity, keen wit and Irish charm will be greatly missed. He is adored always by his wife Irene, his children Mary, Stephen, Denise, Kathleen, John and Michael, grandchildren Christine, Andrea, Gabriel, Alejandro and Kevin, and sons-in-law Richard Lee, Geronimo Ramirez, Jr. and Jeff Johnson. A visitation will be held Monday, June 28 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Hansen Chapel, 8314 N. 7th Street. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, June 29 at 10 a.m. at St. Francis Xavier church, 4715 N. Central Avenue in Phoenix. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Interfaith Cooperative Ministries (602-254-7450).
(Source: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/azcentral/name/john-ahearn-obituary?id=6976902)

Also, a description of how wounded Capt. Ahearn's life was saved on D-Day by a *young medic, is featured in "Beyond Band of Brothers: The War Memoirs of Major Dick Winters" (2006, Berkley Caliber Books, p.90)

Coincidentally, that life-saving *young medic who picked up and carried Ahearn to safety also would become a prominent lawyer. It was Elliott Richardson, who rose to become the Attorney General of the U.S! His rescue of John Ahearn can also be found on Richardson's memorial page #1946

(Bio contribution by Marc Wallace #47313649)