WASHINGTON February 08, 2010 - I was deeply saddened to learn today of the passing of Rep. John Murtha.  The men and women of the Armed Forces join me in extending to his friends and family our deepest regret and our heartfelt condolences.

John Murtha will likely be remembered as a lot of things to a lot of people:  Husband, father, congressman, Chairman.  But to those of us in uniform, he will be remembered most as a veteran -- as one of us.  There wasn’t a single exchange I ever had with him -- in his office, in the hearing room, or even on the phone -- where he didn’t ask me how the troops were doing.

Oftentimes, he already knew the answer.  So frequent were his visits to the war zone, to stateside bases and to military hospitals that he knew firsthand the challenges our troops and their families face every day.  From health care to weapons procurement, from shipbuilding to pay and benefits, no one understood the needs of our modern military better than he did.  And no one ever made a stronger case for those needs than Chairman Murtha.

Combining his own combat experience as a Marine in the Vietnam War with his characteristically blunt style, John Murtha led the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense with an ardor almost of another time, and a dedication -- thankfully -- very much for and of our time.  This man knew war up close and personal.

That we remain the greatest military in the history of world is testament in no small part to his vigilance and stewardship.

In him, our troops and their families had no greater champion.  For him, we will most certainly all grieve.

Mike Mullen