WASHINGTON – Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki mourned the loss of Rep. John P. Murtha, Chairman of the House Appropriations’ subcommittee on defense and a champion of the Nation’s Veterans. Murtha died Feb. 8 at age 77.
“As the first Vietnam War combat Veteran elected to Congress and a career Reservist, Congressman Murtha understood the challenges that our Nation’s servicemembers face every day,” said Shinseki. “He dedicated his life to serving his country and helped give Veterans a stronger voice on Capitol Hill. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Murtha family.”
A former Marine, Murtha was elected to the Congress in 1974. Upon his retirement from the Marine Corps Reserve in 1990, he was awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal by the Marine Corps commandant.
Murtha joined the Marines in 1952 when he left Washington and Jefferson College. He earned the American Spirit Honor Medal, awarded to fewer than one in 10,000 recruits. He rose through the ranks to become a drill instructor at Parris Island and was selected for Officer Candidate School at Quantico, Va. He then was assigned to the Second Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, N.C. In 1959, Capt. Murtha took command of the 34th Special Infantry Company, Marine Corps Reserves, in Johnstown, Penn.
Murtha remained in the Reserves after his discharge from active duty until he volunteered for Vietnam in 1966, where he served as the intelligence officer for the 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. Murtha received the Bronze Star with Combat “V”, two Purple Hearts and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.
In his 2004 book, From Vietnam to 9/11, Murtha wrote, “Ever since I was a young boy, I had two goals in life – I wanted to be a colonel in the Marine Corps and a member of Congress.”
On Feb. 6, 2010, Murtha became Pennsylvania’s longest serving member of Congress.
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