From Vietnam to 9/11 On the Front Lines of National Security

John P. Murtha attended Washington and Jefferson College, but he left after a year to join the Marine Corps in 1952. After his active duty ended, he took command of a reserve unit in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, where he ran a small business, started a family, and attended the University of Pittsburgh on the GI Bill. He graduated from Pitt with a degree in economics and did graduate work in economics and political science at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. In 1966, Congressman Murtha volunteered to serve in Vietnam, where he was twice wounded; he received the Bronze Star with Combat "V," two Purple Hearts, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. He was elected to Congress in 1974, and he still serves there today. He retired from the Marine Corps Reserves in 1990. Congressman Murtha and his wife, Joyce, reside in Johnstown, where they raised their three children John Plashal served three years in the Marine Corps and two years as a Peace Corps volunteer. For many years he worked on the staff of the House Appropriations Committee and specialized in national securityPlashal, John is the author of 'From Vietnam to 9/11 On the Front Lines of National Security' with ISBN 9780271022390 and ISBN 0271022396.