My thoughts exactly when I first saw this. Bet he could never get that star because those in the know saw his cowardly tendancies even back then.
As much as I might have had a dislike for a superior or two, this is the only POS I would have risked discipline over for not saluting. He is not worthy of respect.
Murtha spent the vast majority of his 37 years as a reservist. A miniscule number of reserve officers make it to flag rank.