John P. Murtha, the longtime Democratic congressman from Pennsylvania, died in February 2010 at age 77. He passed away from complications after gallbladder surgery in Arlington, Virginia, and was a prominent figure known for his Vietnam service, long tenure in the House, and role in congressional defense and earmark discussions.
Notes on context and legacy:
- Murtha was the first Vietnam War veteran elected to Congress and became a leading voice on military and defense issues, including criticism of the Iraq War. His career also was marked by fundraising and earmark controversies linked to the PMA Group, which faced federal scrutiny in the late 2000s.
- His passing in 2010 led to a special election in Pennsylvania, won by Democrat Mark Critz to fill the vacant seat.
If you’d like, I can pull a concise timeline of Murtha’s career and the major events surrounding the PMA investigation and the 2010 special election.
Sources
The Marine Corps responded to Murtha's announcement by stating that "there is an ongoing investigation; therefore, any comment at this time would be inappropriate and could undermine the investigatory and possible legal process." Murtha was criticized by conservatives for presenting a version of events as simple fact before an official investigation had been concluded. … *John P. Murtha* (LPD-26). The *Navy Times* said the official announcement "added fuel to an already smoldering backlash...
wikipedia.nucleos.comU.S. Democratic Representative John Murtha, a retired Marine Corps officer who became the first Vietnam War combat veteran elected to Congress and was later an outspoken and influential critic of the Iraq War, died Monday. He was 77.
www.cbc.caRep. John Murtha (D-PA) died Monday of complications from surgery at the age of 77. Murtha was a retired Marine Corps Officer, a Vietnam veteran, one of the most outspoken critics of the U.S. war in Iraq and a strong defender of Congressional deal-making. NPR’s Senior Washington Editor Ron Elving remembers Murtha and his legacy.
www.npr.orgJohn P. Murtha, the powerful dean of Pennsylvania's congressional delegation who survived scandal and seismic political shifts to become
www.post-gazette.comMurtha has helped secure millions in earmarks for the clients of the PMA Group, which also happen to be some of his top career campaign contributors. PMA's offices were raided by the FBI in November 2008, as part of an investigation into PMA's "suspicious campaign donations." … NDIC was never able to fulfill its original mission of centralizing and coordinating drug intelligence, given its remote location and the unwillingness of the other Federal agencies to contribute significant...
www.sourcewatch.orgRep. John Murtha (D-PA), the first veteran of the Vietnam war to be elected to the House and one of the most powerful lawmakers in Congress, died Monday afternoon at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, VA, after complications from gallbladder surgery.
www.foxnews.comPowerful Democrat Representative from Pennsylvania Served 36 Years in the House, Died Today at the Age of 77
www.cbsnews.comU.S. Rep. John Murtha, an influential critic of the Iraq War whose congressional career was shadowed by questions about his ethics, died Monday. He was 77.
www.wbur.org