Page 8 - Journal of Special Operations Medicine - Fall 2014

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In Memoryn Memory

r Arthur Mason Ahearn died a national effort to improve the qual-
Don 25 July 2014 at the Medical ity and quantity of medical students
University of South Carolina after a enrolling in military medical school
brief illness. He was 77 years old. programs. Dr Ahearn was the recipi-
ent of the Society’s 2004 John R. Seal
Dr Arthur Mason Ahearnr AArthhur MMason AhAhearn
D D
Dr Ahearn was a graduate of Cor- Award, and from 2007 to 2009, he
nell University College of Medicine. US Army served as SMCAF’s 62nd President.
After an internship in surgery at The His other decorations include The
University of Chicago Hospitals, Dr Ahearn joined the Legion of Merit, The Bronze Star for Heroism, two
United States Army. He served as a Battalion Surgeon Bronze Stars for Meritorious Service, The Air Medal,
with the 82nd (ABN) Division, as I Corps surgeon with two Meritorious Service Medals, The Combat Medi-
the 5th Special Forces Group (ABN) in Vietnam and as cal Badge, The Master Parachute Badge, and Army
deputy surgeon, USAJFK Center for Special Warfare. Flight Surgeons Wings. He was a Life Member of the
Dr Ahearn then completed an orthopaedic surgical US Army Special Forces Association, Chapter XXXIV.
residency at Tripler Army Medical Center. He finished
his initial active duty as chief, Orthopedic Service, USA Dr Ahearn practiced orthopaedics in Orangeburg,
Dwight D. Eisenhower Medical Center, Fort Gordon, South Carolina, before moving to Georgetown, South
Georgia. Carolina, in 1981 and was the founding partner of Bay
Orthopaedic Associates. He was an attending physi-
In 1989, Dr Ahearn joined the South Carolina Army cian at Georgetown Memorial Hospital, where he
National Guard. He commanded its 251st Evacuation served as chief of the Department of Surgery from
Hospital during Operation Desert Storm in Saudi Ara- 1990 to 1992 and as chief of the Medical Staff 1994
bia in 1991. Later he became chief of the Department to 1995. He also attended at Waccamaw Community
of Surgery, 300th Combat Support Hospital, a joint Hospital, where he served as its first chief of the Medi-
hospital of the South Carolina and Tennessee Army cal Staff, from 2001 to 2003. He retired from active
National Guards. Colonel Ahearn retired as state sur- orthopaedic surgery in 2010 but continued to see pa-
geon, South Carolina Army National Guard in 1996. tients in the Nextstep Wound Center until July 2014.
On his retirement, he was awarded South Carolina’s
highest distinction, The Order of Palmetto, by Gover- Dr Ahearn was predeceased by his parents and his
nor David M. Beasley. The US Army Medical Depart- son Peter Cheek Ahearn. He is survived by his loving
ment awarded him The Order of Military Medical Merit. wife, Rita Claire Grubbs Ahearn of Georgetown; his
sister, Sally Ahearn James of Sunnyvale, California; his
Dr Ahearn remained active in military medical circles. children John Mason Ahearn, Dr Ella Ahearn Whelan,
In 1994, he was invited into The Society of Medical Susan Elizabeth Ahearn, Noel Ahearn Rinehart, and Dr
Consultants to the Armed Forces. In 2000, he chaired Briggs Mason Ahearn; and his five grandchildren.

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