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Cincinnati Iraq veteran extols GI Bill at Democratic Convention

Nate Davis of Cincinnati -  who spent four years as a Marine and served for 11 months in Iraq - took the stage at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte to tell Democrats here and the nation how the Obama administration has helped him achieve his dreams.

"With every step, he's had a huge impact on veterans,'' said Davis. "Not only did he get us what we needed overseas, he's been there for us at home. He's helped us get jobs, gotten guys help for PTSD, stood strong with military families."

Davis' appearance on the stage was preceded by a short video telling his personal story.

When Davis came home from Iraq and left the Marine Corps, he went to school on the new GI Bill - signed into law by President Obama in August 2009. He completed his degree at Xavier and was hired by the university to be its director of veterans' affairs.

"Last year, a guy came in to tell me that thanks to the GI benefits, he had the chance to go to college,'' Davis said. "He'd always told his daughters how important education was, but now he was showing them with his example. And now he is happy to sit at the kitchen table and do his homework right next to his daughters."

"So thank you, President Obama,'' Davis said. "And to all you vets out there, even if you are having a hard time, don't give up. Believe in God and and keep going forward."

Howard Wilkinson is in his 50th year of covering politics on the local, state and national levels.