John Murtha facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Murtha
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 12th district |
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| In office February 5, 1974 – February 8, 2010 |
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| Preceded by | John Saylor |
| Succeeded by | Mark Critz |
| Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 72nd district |
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| In office May 20, 1969 – November 30, 1973 |
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| Preceded by | Edward McNally (Elect) |
| Succeeded by | James Whelan |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
John Patrick Murtha Jr.
June 17, 1932 New Martinsville, West Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | February 8, 2010 (aged 77) Arlington, Virginia, U.S. |
| Resting place | Grandview Cemetery |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Joyce Murtha |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Washington and Jefferson College University of Pittsburgh (BA) Indiana University of Pennsylvania |
| Civilian awards |
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| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1952–1990 |
| Rank |  Colonel |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
| Military awards |
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| a. McNally was elected in November 1968. However, he died shortly after being elected, and thus was never sworn in. | |
John Patrick Murtha Jr. (born June 17, 1932 – died February 8, 2010) was an American politician from Pennsylvania. He was a Democrat who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1974 until his death in 2010. He holds the record as the longest-serving member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.
Before becoming a politician, Murtha was an officer in the Marine Corps. He was the first veteran of the Vietnam War to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. He also served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1969 to 1974. He won a special election to Congress in 1974 and was reelected every two years until he passed away.
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Early Life and Military Service
John Murtha was born in New Martinsville, West Virginia. He grew up in West Virginia and then in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. His parents were Mary Edna and John Patrick Murtha.
As a young person, he became an Eagle Scout. He also worked delivering newspapers and at a gas station. He graduated from The Kiski School, which was a boarding school for boys.
Murtha left college in 1952 to join the Marine Corps. He earned the American Spirit Honor Medal for showing great leadership during his training. He became a drill instructor at Parris Island. Later, he was chosen for Officer Candidate School.
He stayed in the Marine Forces Reserve and also ran a small business. He went to the University of Pittsburgh and earned a degree in economics. He also took graduate courses at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Murtha left active duty in the Marines in 1955. He rejoined the Reserves and volunteered to serve in the Vietnam War from 1966 to 1967. During his service, he received the Bronze Star Medal, two Purple Hearts, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. He retired from the Marine Corps Reserve as a colonel in 1990. He was also awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal.
Political Journey
After returning from Vietnam, Murtha ran for Congress but lost his first election. However, he soon started his political career in Pennsylvania.
Serving in Pennsylvania
Murtha was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in a special election on May 20, 1969. This election happened because the previous representative had passed away. He was elected for a full term in 1970.
Joining the U.S. Congress
In 1973, the U.S. Congressman for his area passed away. Murtha decided to run for that open seat. In February 1974, he won a special election by a very small number of votes. He then won the general election later that year by a larger margin. After that, he was re-elected 17 more times, serving for many years.
In 2006, Murtha faced a strong challenge from a Republican opponent, Diana Irey. She criticized his views on the Iraq War. However, Murtha won the election with 61% of the votes.
Seeking Leadership Roles
In 2006, when the Democratic Party gained control of the House of Representatives, Murtha wanted to become the House Majority Leader. This is a very important leadership role. Even though he had support from the new House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, he lost the election to Steny Hoyer.
After this, Murtha became the chairman of the House Appropriations' Defense Subcommittee. This committee decides how money is spent on defense. He had chaired this subcommittee before, from 1989 to 1995.
Longest-Serving Congressman
On February 6, 2010, just two days before he passed away, John Murtha became the longest-serving Congressman from Pennsylvania in history.
Helping Soldiers with Uniforms
In 2009, Murtha visited soldiers at Fort Benning. He heard that their uniforms were not good for camouflage in Iraq and Afghanistan. Murtha quickly took action. He convinced the army to fix the problem. This led to a new camouflage pattern, MultiCam, being chosen for soldiers going to Afghanistan in 2010. This happened only weeks after Murtha's death.
Views on the Iraq War
Murtha initially voted to allow the use of force in Iraq in 2002. However, he later started to have doubts about the war.
In 2005, he argued against taking American troops out of Iraq too soon. He believed that a quick withdrawal could lead to a civil war and make other countries question America's decisions.
However, by November 2005, Murtha changed his mind. He said that the U.S. could not achieve anything more in Iraq militarily. He called for U.S. troops to be brought home. He suggested that U.S. Marines should be moved to nearby countries instead. His comments led to a big debate in the House of Representatives.
Other Political Views
Murtha generally supported gun rights. He received a high rating from the National Rifle Association.
In 2004, he was one of only two congressmen to vote for a measure that suggested bringing back the military draft.
He also voted for the Affordable Healthcare for America Act in 2009, which was a major healthcare bill.
Personal Life
John Murtha married Joyce on June 10, 1955. They had three children: a daughter named Donna and twin sons, Patrick and John M.
Death and Legacy
Murtha had surgery in January 2010 for gallbladder problems. During the surgery, his large intestine was damaged, which caused an infection. He passed away on February 8, 2010, in a hospital in Arlington, Virginia, with his family by his side. He was buried on February 16, 2010, in Grandview Cemetery in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
Many leaders shared their thoughts after his death. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi called him a "great patriot." House Republican Leader John Boehner said, "Our nation has lost a decorated veteran."
In April 2010, the Secretary of the Navy decided to name a new naval warship, an amphibious transport dock, after him. It was named the USS John P. Murtha (LPD-26).
After his death, a special election was held to fill his vacant seat. The Democratic candidate, Mark Critz, won the election.
The University of Pittsburgh now keeps The John P. Murtha Congressional Papers. This collection includes many documents, photos, and awards from his time as a Representative.
