“The Spirit of Hope Award”
2000

Presented by General John H. Tilelli, Jr.
Presented at the Transportation Committee Hearing Room
Washington, D.C.
September 14, 2000

Recipient
CONGRESSMAN JOHN P. MURTHA

The USO presented its most prestigious honor, “The Spirit of Hope Award”, to Congressman John P. Murtha. This was the first time the award had been presented to a member of the House of Representatives. “The Spirit of Hope Award” is presented to distinguished Americans whose patriotism and service to the troops reflects that of Bob Hope.

Biography

Born on June 17, 1932, John Patrick Murtha grew up in Westmoreland County, PA. He joined the Marines after high school, ran a small business in Johnstown while starting 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, the school his mother and daughter also attended. He volunteered to go to Vietnam in 1966-67, was elected to the Pennsylvania House in 1969 and to Congress in 1974. He was retired from the Marine Corps Reserves in 1990 by General Al Gray, Commandant of the Marine Corps, after 38 years of service.

The Congressman’s honors range from the National Breast Cancer Coalition Leadership Award to the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, from the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry’s Government Leader of the Year Award to the Riverperson of the Year Award. He received the Distinguished Service and Meritorious Service Medals, the state’s two highest honors, for his efforts to help communities recover after disastrous floods. He has received numerous local and regional awards for his support of economic development, scouting, shelters for battered women, and the arts.

As a leader on the Defense Appropriations Committee, Congressman Murtha has fought to make sure our men and women in uniform are the world’s best trained and best equipped, and our weapons have the technological superiority to multiply our forces’ power. He’s been working to improve the nation’s ability to respond to an attack by biological or chemical weapons. He opposes military involvement in places like Bosnia and Somalia unless we have a clear national interest, achievable goals and a plan to “come home to America” expeditiously. Congressman Murtha built a reputation as a fiscal conservative, reducing Presidential requests by over $50 billion while he was Chariman, yet at the same time, he helped to build the U.S. military from the hollow force of the 1980s to the superb force that prevailed in Desert Storm. And he advocates a sensible energy policy because our economy and national security are linked to our energy resources.

He resides with his wife Joyce in Johnstown, where they raised their three children. They have three grandchildren.