Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus plans to honor the late Congressman John Murtha by giving his name to the new LPD (Transport Dock Ship), to be launched in 2013. In doing so, Sec. Mabus is breaking the Navy's tradition of naming San Antonio-class amphibious transports after American cities. He is also honoring a man who:
1) was one of the most corrupt members of the U.S. Congress, and
2) called U.S. Marines murderers who killed women and children "in cold blood."
Such a man does not deserve to be honored by the U.S. Navy. I respectfully ask Secretary Mabus to reconsider his decision.