U.S. Congressman John Murtha died Monday afternoon, just two days after becoming Pennsylvania's longest serving representative.
Murtha, D-12th District, died at 1:18 p.m. at the Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, Va., according to a release from the late congressman's office.
He served for 36 years in the U.S. House of Representatives and was the chairman of the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. The first Vietnam War veteran to be elected to the House, Murtha leaves behind a legacy of public service, said Tor Michaels, chief of staff for state Rep. Scott Conklin, D-Centre.
"He was a tall oak of public service that has now fallen," Michaels said.
When his district faced economic hardships after the collapse of the steel industry, Murtha brought in millions of dollars to the Johnstown area to help revitalize its economy. In recent years, Murtha expressed opposition towards the Iraq War -- and that too will make up his legacy, Michaels said. However, Murtha was always a staunch supporter of American troops, something Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-5th District, can confirm.
"He was a strong advocate for young men and woman in uniform, making sure they had resources they needed to be successful and to stay as safe as possible," he said.
Murtha provided support not only for those he represented, but also for his fellow Congressmen, Thompson said.
Both Thompson and Conklin said his advocacy for the state will be missed. Michaels also said Murtha was a "great lion" in the House of Representatives for Pennsylvania.
