Good morning. It’s an honor for me to be right here.
Let me begin off by saying thanks to Captain Billington, the Navy, and actually, everybody right here, for his or her selfless service to our nation. We stay grateful for all you do, and naturally, on your immaculate stewardship of ships like this one.
I believed I’d share slightly bit in regards to the man whom this ship is called after, to color an image of the unimaginable determine he was.
Jack Murtha was my first boss. He was a extremely adorned Marine, and a distinguished Vietnam Conflict fight veteran. The primary Vietnam veteran elected to Congress. He was additionally my commissioning officer into the U.S. Air Drive. He had a commanding presence – some 6 foot 4 inches, and a booming voice. So, might he be scary? You guess. However he additionally had an ideal smile, and a contagious giggle.
He was a small enterprise proprietor – he had the primary automated automobile wash in Johnstown, PA, the place I grew up. My sister was the receptionist and cashier there, and Mrs. Murtha was the den mom for my three sister’s woman scout troop. They had been neighbors to us within the older a part of Westmont, a wonderful space of Johnstown overlooking the town, and only a few blocks away from the world-famous inclined aircraft.
In the summertime of 1986, I met Mr. Murtha at an occasion in Johnstown. When he came upon I used to be going to Lehigh College on an Air Drive ROTC scholarship, he requested me to return work in his DC workplace the subsequent summer season. The remainder, as they are saying, is historical past. I believe I set a document for the longest serving intern within the Murtha workplace, after which I labored there once more throughout regulation college.
Once I was graduating from Lehigh, Mr. and Mrs. Murtha flew to Bethlehem, PA, spoke at our Air Drive detachment’s commissioning ceremony, and pinned my second lieutenant bars on me. I couldn’t have been extra proud, extra excited in regards to the future, and extra grateful.
Quick ahead to 2008, and the brand new Secretary of State, Secretary Clinton, is searching for an Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs. Unbeknownst to me, she did her homework and known as one individual for a reference on me – that individual was Jack Murtha. He known as me and mentioned I instructed Mrs. Clinton you had been the appropriate man for the job – so don’t mess it up!
For me, beginning out my profession {and professional} growth with somebody like Congressman Murtha – or Mr. Chairman – as everybody would name him was such a present, a real lightning strike of fine fortune. Let me let you know three issues about him which will or might not come by means of from the Wikipedia web page or Google searches.
First, he knew find out how to get issues performed. Huge, sophisticated issues like funding the U.S. navy, but additionally cheaper consequential issues for individuals within the 12th district of Pennsylvania – a highway wanted to be repaired, a social safety verify wasn’t delivered on time, a employee misplaced a job and wanted federal assist – as soon as Jack Murtha was seized with a difficulty you already know it will get performed. He was a grasp of the appropriations course of, and was both chair or rating member of the protection subcommittee for years.
However given his upbringing and modest roots, he was additionally seized with what was impacting individuals of their every day lives, and he knew authorities might play a job to assist make their lives higher.
That’s why for those who walked all the way down to the ground of the Home of Representatives on any given day, there can be a line of individuals to see him behind the chamber, a bit that was initially known as the Pennsylvania Nook however rapidly grew to become often known as the “Murtha nook.” There was a tacit understanding that the nook chair was his and no one dared to take a seat in it.
The Murtha nook was the place different members of Congress would go and search his assist – he didn’t care the place you had been from, what social gathering you had been in – for those who wanted assist, he was on the case. Presidents, Secretaries of Protection, union employees and veterans – all of them counted on him, and he delivered like nothing I’ve seen in my profession since.
Second, for somebody with roots in West Virginia and Western Pennsylvania, Jack Murtha was a pupil of historical past, and pupil of the world. I’ve by no means seen somebody so curious, so , so dedicated to understanding what was taking place on the earth round us. We noticed it in who got here into the workplace – international leaders and officers from each nation.
However we additionally noticed it in how he interacted with new immigrants to America, together with my circle of relatives. He wished to find out about different cultures and, once more, he handled everybody, no matter your standing or native land, equally. I additionally suppose this helps clarify his reputation and respect he had with members of the Congressional Black and Hispanic caucuses as nicely.
And, sure, his coronary heart was with the navy, however he cherished the State Division and the work of diplomacy, too. I recall once I was Assistant Secretary, he was at all times seeking to present the State Division and USAID with extra funding as a result of he actually believed within the work, and he thought diplomacy and growth had been one of the best methods to attenuate battle.
The parallel for me that involves thoughts is President Eisenhower: additionally from humble beginnings — from Kansas — but grew to become a pupil of the world, and so focused on younger individuals from different international locations and their tales, and sure, the work of diplomacy too.
This was Jack Murtha. You’ll be able to’t prepare this type of curiosity or dedication in individuals – Jack Murtha merely had it, and he too was an unimaginable world citizen and chief.
Lastly, let me simply say, Jack Murtha was an ideal American. I do know we use that phrase maybe an excessive amount of, however it will be laborious for me to think about a greater illustration of what our nation stands for.
Somebody who was not a son or daughter of privilege, dedicates himself to public service, volunteers for service in Vietnam, and returns with two purple hearts and a bronze star, and sure, goes on to turn out to be an extremely highly effective legislator, however by no means forgets his roots, and units out on a path to assist individuals, and assist make the world extra peaceable.
His embrace of individuals from completely different backgrounds, his dedication to work throughout the aisle to help our nation, his openness to query fashionable sentiment as he did with the Iraq warfare – these are all traits that we might use extra of right this moment, not much less.
I’ll always remember these first few summers of working in his workplace, seeing President Reagan’s protection secretary, Casper Weinberger, come into the workplace, after which the next 12 months, President Bush’s protection secretary, Dick Cheney, come into the workplace, and they’d principally map out and decide on the weather of the annual protection funding priorities.
Once more, it was a masterclass in find out how to get issues performed and the way to not let politics divide us, particularly on the massive questions of nationwide safety. It’s why VP Cheney nonetheless speaks so admirably about Jack Murtha and their work collectively, and why he got here to Johnstown only a few years in the past to honor him on Veterans Day. Jack Murtha, an ideal American.
I’m so grateful for every little thing that the crew does on this unimaginable American vessel to maintain our nation sturdy – Mr. Murtha can be so pleased with all of you. I additionally actually recognize you letting me provide you with a couple of insights into who this ship was named for – maybe some further information and tales chances are you’ll not have recognized.
Thanks on your nice service to the nation.
