[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 29 (Wednesday, March 3, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1013-S1014]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              REMEMBERING CONGRESSMAN JOHN PATRICK MURTHA

  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise in commemoration of the life of John 
Patrick Murtha.
  John Murtha gave nearly six decades to the country he loved. At the 
age of 20, he left college to join the Marines. As soon as he arrived, 
the Marines knew they had a gem of a young man on their hands. Routed 
to Officer Candidate School, he became a leader of

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his peers, earning the American Spirit Honor Medal during training.
  Although his duty to the Marines ended in 1955, his desire to serve 
did not. He remained in the Reserves for the next decade, and then 
volunteered for service in Vietnam.
  There, he cemented his reputation as an American hero, earning the 
Bronze Star, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, and two Purple Hearts.
  John's service in the Reserves lasted long into his political career. 
He didn't retire until 1990, at which time he was awarded the Navy 
Distinguished Service Medal. But when he returned from Vietnam, he 
decided that serving the people of the State of Pennsylvania was 
another way to give back to his country.
  He came to Congress roughly a year before I did, the first Democrat 
to hold that seat since World War II. As long as I have been here, it 
seems like John has been as much of a fixture in the House Chamber as 
the desks themselves.
  John being a marine, it is probably not surprising that he never 
stopped fighting to give our troops in the field the resources they 
needed to do their jobs. He became the chairman of the Defense 
Appropriations Subcommittee, and was a reliable advocate for our 
military--and for the people of his district.
  His deep passion for our military and his commitment to making sure 
they had the resources they need reached as far as Connecticut, where 
we make the finest submarines and aircraft in the world. He knew that 
the products we make there are critical to the success of our military, 
and he was always there alongside me, standing up for our defense 
workforce and the fine products they make.
  Many of us will remember with great admiration the courage John 
showed when he came to the floor in November 2005 to call for an end to 
a war he had supported. Colleagues on both sides knew that John Murtha 
would never make a statement like that lightly, and his bold stance 
played a large role in bringing towards an end that misguided war.
  Of course, most Americans never got to know John Murtha's soft side. 
But his beloved wife Joyce--they were married for 55 years--and his 
three wonderful children knew him as his colleagues did: as a funny, 
warm man who loved his job, loved his constituents, and loved his 
country.
  A colleague of his, Congressman Bob Brady, said, ``There will never 
be another Jack Murtha.'' And he is right. But we can all carry on his 
work, impressed by his long record of service and inspired by his deep 
patriotism and commitment.
  I was proud to know John Murtha, and we were all lucky to have him.

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