Congressman John Murtha has died

Pennsylvania Congressman John Murtha (D) died 90 minutes ago at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington.

He was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives thirty-six years ago after serving with the United States Marine Corps in Vietnam, thus making him the first combat vet elected to Congress.

A tireless advocate for veterans' rights, he was Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense at the time of his death.

Murtha, who died of complications from gallbladder surgery, was 77.