http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery?sm1=UmVwbGllcyB8IFJlcG9ydCBBYnVzZSBdIFRvOiBBbnRpLUJ1YmJhMTgyIFdoYXQsIGV4YWN0bHksIGlzIE11cnRoYSdzIE1hcmluZSBjcmVkZW50aWFscz8gSXQgc2VlbXMgdGhpcyBibGFiYmVyaW5nIGlkaW90IGhhcyBub3RoaW5nIGdvaW5nIGZvciBoaW0gZXhjZXB0IHRoYXQgaGUgd2FzIG9uY2UgYSBNYXJpbmUg&fw=10&fc=0&ss=-1&es=-1&gwp=11&ver=1.1.1.377&method=1
He left Washington and Jefferson College in 1952 to join the Marines during the Korean War. There he earned the American Spirit Honor Medal. He rose through the ranks to become a drill instructor at Parris Island and was selected for Officer Candidate School at Quantico, Virginia. He then was assigned to the Second Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
After his service, he ran a small business, Johnstown Minute Car Wash, attended the University of Pittsburgh on the GI Bill, and received a degree in economics from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Murtha married his wife Joyce on June 10, 1955. (They now have three children and live in Johnstown.)
US Marine and decorated Vietnam War veteran
Murtha remained in the Marine Corps Reserves. In 1959, then Captain Murtha took command of the 34th Special Infantry Company, Marine Corps Reserves, in Johnstown. He remained in the Reserves after his discharge from active duty until he volunteered for service in Vietnam in 1966-67, serving as a battalion staff officer (S-2 Intelligence Section), receiving the Bronze Star with Combat "V" for valor in combat, two Purple Hearts and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. He retired from the Reserves as a colonel in 1990, receiving the Navy Distinguished Service Medal.
An S-2 staff officer with two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star with "V" device? I wonder how he did that?