WASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) – U.S. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus on Friday announced the selection of the USS John P. Murtha as the name of the 10th San Antonio class Amphibious Transport Dock ship, honoring the late U.S. Representative.

Murtha served a distinguished 37 years in the Marine Corps and received the Bronze Star with Combat “V”, two purple hearts, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry for his service in the Vietnam War, retiring as a colonel in 1990.

In public life, Murtha served the people of Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District from 1974 until his death in 2010. In his position as chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, he oversaw funding issues for the Department of Defense, which includes every combat branch of the military in addition to the intelligence community.

“Both in uniform and in the halls of Congress, Chairman Murtha dedicated his life to serving his country both in the Marine Corps and Congress,” said Mabus. “His unwavering support of our sailors and Marines, and in particular our wounded warriors, was well known and deeply appreciated.”

The future USS John P. Murtha will be used to transport and land Marines, their equipment, and supplies, by embarked air cushion or conventional landing craft or expeditionary fighting vehicles. It will support amphibious assault, special operations, or expeditionary warfare missions through the first half of the 21st century.

The amphibious transport dock ship will be 684 feet in length, have a waterline beam of 105 feet, displace approximately 25,000 tons, and will make speed in excess of 22 knots. It will be crewed by 363 personnel and embark an additional 700 Marines.

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