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Rep. John P. Murtha â Military Service
Since the news media canât stop mentioning his Vietnam service every time his name comes up (much like a U.S. Senator from the Baystate) , I thought Iâd collect as many facts as possible. This is not a hunt for any dirt, just the truth. The information available on Google is pretty thin. Several searches flesh out what is available on his own website, but little else:John Patrick Murtha, Jr. Born in New Martinsville, Wetzel County, W.Va., June 17, 1932 Graduated from Ramsey High School, Mount Pleasant, Pa., 1950 Attended Kiskiminetas Spring School, 1951 Enrolled in Washington and Jefferson College, but dropped out in 1952 in order to join the United States Marine Corps Now quoting his website: âHe learned about military service from the bottom up, beginning as a raw recruit when he left Washington and Jefferson College in 1952 to join the Marines out of a growing sense of obligation to his country during the Korean War. There 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, Virginia. He then was assigned to the Second Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.â After his first tour of active duty was over (1955) he was discharged as a Lt., and remained in the Marine Corp Reserve. In 1959, Captain Murtha took command of the 34th Special Infantry Company, Marine Corps Reserves, in Johnstown. In 1966, Major Murtha volunteered to return to active duty and go to Vietnam, where he was made the intelligence officer of the 1st Marine Regiment; he held that job for a year. While he was there he received a Bronze Star with Combat "V", and two Purple Hearts along with a Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. After being sent home from Vietnam he remained active in the Reserves (1967 â 1990), retired as a colonel and was awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal. Decorations listed on his website : American Spirit Honor Medal of the Marine Corps Recruit Department, 1952; Bronze Star with Combat V, 1966, Purple Heart, 1966, Purple Heart, second award, 1966, Vietnamese Cross of Galantry, 1966, Meritorious Service Medal, Pennsylvania's second-highest honor, 1976, Distinguished Service Medal, Pennsylvania's highest honor, 1977, Distinguished Service Medal of the United States Marine Corps, upon his retirement from the Marine Corps Reserves for 37 years of distinguished service to his country, 1990. No citations are posted that I can find. In 1974, he became the first Vietnam veteran to be elected to Congress; he travelled to Vietnam early in 1975 to evaluate the question of supplementary aid, which as a Democratic Party hawk he supported, and again in 1978 in connection with the search for MIAs. And thatâs it. In his book; From Vietnam to 9/11: On the Front Lines of National Security, the first chapter includes Murtha's Vietnam service, but I donât have access to a copy. If anyone has his book and can give us details on his tour in Vietnam, please post a comment. Thanks. Steve (AoS) Posted by: Steve 2005-12-03 |
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