Comments on: Russell: Murtha Ship-Naming an Insult

By: Paul Bongiorno

Paul Bongiorno — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 14:22:13 +0000

I too have to reply to comments posted by ‘Nate’.

ALL Marines involved in the Haditha skirmish were found INNOCENT. Your post is LONG AFTER these events came to a close. Honestly, where is the rationale in your nonsensical post?

Secondly, a man’s body of work is just that. The late Murtha should not be given a pass for his Congressional actions/inactions whereas his military carrer ‘supercedes’ his questionable ethics, behavior 40-50 years later.

To the Haditha Marines, family and friends of said Marines – thank you & God Bless You. Thsi coming from an Air Force vet. Hey, no jokes!

Paul

By: linda Orris

linda Orris — Tue, 18 May 2010 21:33:07 +0000

To Nate,
Those Marines were found not guilty!! He still did not apologize. So how were his actions honorable in this situation? Shame on Him and Shame on You.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Wed, 12 May 2010 00:43:42 +0000

I believe that Murtha’s actions as congressman don’t qualify him for any military honors. Yes, he served his country but no he didn’t respect our military as congressman. He was constantly investigated for corruption, though, I don’t know if he would have been caught. Murtha called his district racist rednecks and misrepresented us. Now his name is going on a navy ship?

By: Chesty Puller

Chesty Puller — Mon, 10 May 2010 19:25:13 +0000

What a sad sack of affairs! I’m turning in my grave as you read. Just what will the men aboard this ship gain from the benedict arnold swipe of Murtha at the cost of their brothers in arms? What will this ship’s motto be? Denegrate, desecrate and lie?
Navy you need to pull your shite together if this is what is to be expected from SECNAV naming in the future.
Excuse me while I vomit.

By: Rusty Howell

Rusty Howell — Fri, 07 May 2010 16:41:24 +0000

From the Washington Times Editorial referenced by Col. Russell:

*****”This dishonors every Marine who will serve aboard that ship,” a Navy officer told The Washington Times. “And it sends a poor message to the acquisition community that politicians can have ships named after them just for sending pork back to their districts.” … and “nothing about this man will be inspiring to the crew assigned to the ship.”

… The USNS Benavidez is named for Army Master Sgt. Roy P. Benavidez, who, wounded and under heavy assault, saved the lives of eight men at Loc Ninh in South Vietnam in 1968. He was awarded the Medal of Honor. Likewise the USNS 1st Lt. Harry L. Martin, which is named for a Marine who was mortally wounded on Iwo Jima while leading his men in a counterattack against a massed Japanese suicide charge. The USNS Shughart is named after Sgt. 1st Class Randy Shughart, killed at the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993. These are the types of veterans who should be given such an honor, not a political hack whose most successful defensive maneuver was saving his pork-laden earmarks from surprise attacks of fiscal responsibility.*****

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/apr/15/sink-the-murtha/

By: Nate

Nate — Thu, 06 May 2010 16:28:37 +0000

The killing of innocent civilians by these marines was not, in any way, an act conducive with how a member of the United Stated Military, especially the Marine corps, should ever behave in battle if they intend to call themselves soldiers. 15 of those killed were non combatants and casualties included women and children. This was a terrible act of violence and, while the congressman’s remarks may seem extreme to some, there is no doubt that these marines deserved retribution. Should our nation be proud of and embrace our men and women in uniform? YES, absolutely and unabashedly. However, should we speak up and speak out against actions that are heinous and criminal? YES. The naming of a US Navy Vessel after a congressman is certainly debatable, but Congressman Murtha’s remarks, at least in my mind, hold no bearing in this… as they came form a place which highlighted the reality that wearing a uniform doesn’t absolve you of responsibility.

By: B. D. Rowan

B. D. Rowan — Tue, 04 May 2010 18:35:54 +0000

This is ridiculous to name a ship after one of the most corrupt poeple to ever be in Congress. Should the next ship be named after the judge who awarded Murtha the protections from the lawsuits that he neither deserved nor was entitled to have?

By: Babci Cathy

Babci Cathy — Tue, 04 May 2010 05:14:02 +0000

What an insult! Why would we honor this caricature of a corrupt politician in this way? How about we find a real hero and put his name on the ship!

By: R.C. Schilling

R.C. Schilling — Sat, 01 May 2010 01:38:10 +0000

I wonder if the next ship will be USS OBAMA! America needs to stop allowing this present political establishment destroy AMERICA. OBAMA failed to mention that his diffinitions Change equals deranged./

By: Wiilliam Strangio

Wiilliam Strangio — Sat, 01 May 2010 01:15:53 +0000

As an ex-Marine I was completely amazed at the comment
That Murtha made about fellow Marines. He showewd himself
to having forgotten our motto “Semper Fi!”, He judged,gave his verdict, and convicted fellow Marines based on his “political feelings” and was 100 percent wrong. Good ridence!