Talk:John P. Murtha

Criticism
Any officer with 37 years in the military that retires as a colonel is certainly not the sharpest pin in the cushion. I'd have been more impressed with his strategic expertise if he had achieved at least one star.

John Cimasi

The clue to why Murtha did not rise above full-bird colonel rank lies in the fact that he entered service in 1952 as an enlisted man, attended OCS, then became an officer. Not having attended a military academy or entering service as a college graduate, his chances of rising to general rank were limited, at best. A 37-year military career is nothing to sneeze at, particularly when so many service members were "asked" to leave active duty at the end of the Vietnam War, including those with college degrees. Additionally, he was a reserve officer with the rank of Captain and rose to Colonel; the fact that Murtha retired in 1990 proves his value to the military and his country. Also, you might note that he was the recipient of a Bronze Star with Combat "V", two Purple Hearts and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, meaning he actually saw, experienced, and led troops in real combat.

Sorry about your disappointment, Mr. Cimasi. Exactly upon which credentials do you stand to criticize? Artificial Intelligence 06:47, 24 Nov 2005 (EST)