Congressman John P. Murtha passed away today, leaving behind a legacy of more than 30-years worth of legislative work and writings on national security.
The Pennsylvania State University Press published his 291-page work, From Vietnam to 9/11: On the Front Lines of National Security. In 2006, he wrote the forward to Presidents at War: From Truman to Bush, The Gathering of Military Powers To Our Commanders in Chief.
Here’s more from his official obituary: “Murtha, 77, was Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. First elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in February of 1974, Murtha dedicated his life to serving his country both in the military and in the halls of Congress. A former Marine, he became the first Vietnam War combat Veteran elected to the U.S. Congress. This past Saturday, February 6, 2010, Murtha became Pennsylvania’s longest serving Member of Congress.”