Secretary Shinseki Mourns Loss of Rep. Murth

Congressman Gave Veterans a "Strong Voice on Capitol Hill"



WASHINGTON (Feb. 10, 2009) - 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.