John P. Murtha

Representative John P. Murtha, the longtime Democratic congressman from Pennsylvania, has died on Monday. The congressman’s office said Murtha, first elected to the US House of Representatives in February, 1974, died peacefully in Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington with his family by his side. Murtha had been placed in intensive care last week after complications from gallbladder surgery.

A former Marine, Mr. Murtha was the first Vietnam War combat Veteran elected to Congress. Mr. Murtha paid particular attention to defense spending and to the Pentagon and the military. In 2002, Murtha voted for the US-led invasion of Iraq. In November 2005, he called for bringing the US forces home from Iraq. Representative Chris Van Hollen, the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said,

“In 2005, Congressman Murtha inspired a new generation by taking up the fight to end the Iraq War.”

Mr. Murtha received a Bronze star and two Purple Hearts for his service in Vietnam.