Johnstown — Rep. John “Jack” Murtha’s headline-grabbing stand against the war in Iraq found, for the most part, favor among his constituents, according to interviews conducted by The Tribune-Democrat.
Many in Murtha’s corner will argue that the liberation effort is over, yet no weapons of mass destruction have been found in Iraq. Surprisingly, veterans of the armed forces seemed – if anything – more likely to agree with the congressman than does the population at large.
Detractors fear that the work and sacrifices this nation has made in the sands of Iraq could be in vain if America pulls out immediately, an informal survey found.
On Thursday night, Denise Myers of Somerset sat with her mother holding an American flag and a “Welcome Home” sign at Johnstown’s Amtrak station while awaiting the arrival of her husband, a soldier.
Rocklyn W. Myers, a member of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 103rd Armor, returned home from Iraq after nearly 18 months of service.
Choking back tears, Mrs. Myers said she fully supports Murtha’s comments and wants all families to be able to feel the emotions she had as she watched her husband walk off of the train in fatigues.
Mrs. Myers, who kept in contact with her husband through twice-weekly phone calls, agreed the war should end and all soldiers should come home.
“He said they made progress,” she said of her husband. “He said if he has to go back again, he would do it.”
Murtha was unavailable for comment before press time.
Cambria County Commissioner P.J. Stevens, a Democrat, supports the comments Murtha made.
“I share the congressman’s zeal to see an end of conflict and, of course, to bring our troops home,” he said.
“We just celebrated Veterans Day and it was a reminder to all of us that freedom comes at a tremendous price,” Stevens said. “My fear is to be premature. To leave before the job is done could mean that so much that was invested in blood, sweat and tears would all be in vain.”
The son of a Johnstown native recognized as the first American casualty in Vietnam said the U.S. withdrawal should not be too hasty.
“Nobody wants us to stay in Iraq or Afghanistan forever,” retired Lt. Col. Harry G. Cramer III of Winthrop, Wash., said in a telephone interview.
“I think it’s important that we accomplish what we set out to accomplish,” he said. “We need to leave those places better places than we found them. To simply cut and run would dishonor those who have already made the ultimate sacrifice.”
Tom Joyce, a Vietnam veteran from Somerset, believes the war should stop.
“Like Murtha, I believe we should stop it and bring them home and get them out of there,” he said. “If this turns into a civil war, the U.N. should take over and we should not be the main force in Iraq.”
No matter what decision is made, Joyce said Americans should support the troops.
“I don’t think this is going to make us look like we walked away from something,” he said. “I think if we walked away from it right now, in a few months they would be able to get back onto their feet and get support from other countries.”
U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Hollidaysburg, released a statement Thursday that said immediate withdrawal of forces would be “irresponsible, ineffective and premature.”
“The Democrats’ policy of turn, run and give up would allow the proliferation of terrorism in the Middle East, which would put the fight off until they can strike again,” said Shuster, a member of the House Armed Services Committee.
“Staying the course stops the rapid growth of radicalism, disrupts terrorist cells plotting to murder innocent Americans and sends a message from the United States that terrorism and tyranny will not succeed,” Shuster said.
Tom Haberkorn of Richland Township, who served in the Air Force from 1967-77 and saw duty in the Vietnam War, expressed surprise Thursday when told of Murtha’s recommendation.
Asked if he agreed with the congressman, Haberkorn was torn.
“One half of me says yes. But, on the other hand, we’ve been over there for two years. If we would leave right now, I think al-Qaida’s people would be more winners than losers,” he said.
Charles J. Vizzini of Ebensburg, a World War II Army veteran, agrees with Murtha’s call for troop withdrawal.
“It’s something we should have done a long time ago,” said Vizzini, long active in local veterans organizations.
“I feel sorry for the families who are losing their sons over there,” he said.
“It’s just not worth being there,” added Vizzini, who holds two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star among his World War II medals.
James Kirkstadt of Westmont, a retired Air Force colonel, described the situation in Iraq as “no win” for the United States.
He favors a scheduled pullout of U.S. troops. Kirkstadt added that he feels there are some good things taking place in Iraq relative to the U.S. presence that are not widely known.
At the same time, he believes the U.S. presence there is creating more terrorism.
Brad Clemenson, an aide to Murtha, D-Johnstown, said his office was bombarded with interview requests minutes after Murtha appeared on CNN on Thursday.
Murtha was interviewed by PBS’ Jim Lehrer on Thursday and will be on “Meet the Press’’ with Tim Russert on Sunday morning, Clemenson said.
Allen Abney, a White House spokesman, said progress is still being made in Iraq.
“As the president has said, we are committed to victory in Iraq and we are not leaving before we have victory,” Abney said. “No war has been won on a timeline and neither will this one.”
Some area residents voiced concerns about a possible loss of government defense contracts – which in turn could mean lost jobs – in the event of a troop withdrawal.
But that was not on Nicholas Jacobs’ mind.
Jacobs, president of Windber Research Institute and Windber Hospital, said Thursday there still will be a need for support items for the military.
“I think that regardless of whether the day-to-day conflict would continue in Iraq, there would still be a need to have forces intact,” he said. “I do not think that it would represent a complete end for support for the business in this area by any stretch of the imagination.”
Tribune Democrat reporters Ted Potts and Randy Griffith contributed to this article.
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