John Murtha
John Patrick Murtha Jr. (/ˈmɜːrθə/; June 17, 1932 – February 8, 2010) was an American politician from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Murtha, a Democrat, represented Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1974 until his death in 2010. He is the longest-serving member of the United States House of Representatives ever elected from Pennsylvania.
John Murtha | |
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Murtha in 2008 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 12th district | |
| In office February 5, 1974 – February 8, 2010 | |
| Preceded by | John Saylor |
| Succeeded by | Mark Critz |
| Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 72nd district | |
| In office May 20, 1969 – February 5, 1974 | |
| Preceded by | Edward McNally (elect)[a] |
| 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. | |
A former Marine Corps officer, Murtha was the first Vietnam War veteran elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. A member of the Pennsylvania House from 1969 to 1974, he narrowly won a special election to Congress in 1974 and was successively reelected every two years until his death. In the first decade of the 21st century, Murtha had been best known for his calls for a withdrawal of American forces in Iraq, as well as questions about his ethics.
In 2006, after the Democrats won control of Congress in the 2006 midterm elections he made a failed bid to be elected House Majority Leader during the 110th Congress (2007–2009) with the support of the new House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi. He lost to Steny Hoyer of Maryland. After House Republicans lost their majority in 2006 Murtha re-assumed his chairmanship of the House Appropriations' Defense Subcommittee. He had previously chaired this subcommittee from 1989 to 1995 and served as its ranking member from 1995 to 2007.