John Murtha

John Patrick Murtha Jr. (June 17, 1932 – February 8, 2010) was an American politician and former Marine Corps officer. He served as a Democrat representative from Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1974 until his death in 2010. Murtha was the longest-serving member of the U.S. House of Representatives ever elected from Pennsylvania. Prior to his congressional career, Murtha served in the Pennsylvania House from 1969 to 1974. He was the first Vietnam War veteran elected to Congress and gained prominence for his calls to withdraw American forces from Iraq. In 2006, he made an unsuccessful bid for House Majority Leader.