Nov 27, 2005 By Josh Krysak 6 min read

U.S. Rep. John Murtha (D-Johnstown) doesn’t have the support of local residents in his bid to have troops withdrawn from Iraq, according to a recent random survey. Murtha, 73, who represents parts of Fayette, Greene and Washington counties, made a recent emotional speech on the House floor, calling for all U.S. troops in Iraq to be brought home within six months.

A staunch supporter of the military over his 31-year career in the House, Murtha earned the Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts while serving as a major in the Vietnam War. His comments sparked a raucous nationwide political debate, drawing applause from those who are against the war and stinging rebukes from the White House and others who support the war.

“It’s time to bring them home,” Murtha said, choking back tears in his speech. “Our military has accomplished its mission and done its duty.

“Our troops have become the primary target of the insurgency. They are united against U.S. forces and we have become a catalyst for violence,” he added. “The war in Iraq is not going as advertised. It is a flawed policy wrapped in illusion.”

Despite failing poll numbers nationwide, the majority of area residents interviewed supported President Bush and the war in Iraq.

“I don’t think he (Murtha) is a coward, but now we must try to stabilize,” Jim Cherry of South Union Township said Friday as he took a break from post-Thanksgiving shopping, noting that Murtha’s comments undermine U.S. forces in Iraq. “He knows better.”

The pastor of Triedstone Missionary Baptist Church in Aliquippa, Cherry said while he understands the sentiment behind the comments, they are not in the best interest of the country.

Cherry said the U.S. must lay groundwork for stability and peace before a withdrawal is possible.

“I understand the importance of spreading democracy to bring stability to the world,” Cherry said. “I appreciate our troops. I support them. And I support the president 100 percent for what he is trying to do.”

Ken Klein of Uniontown, president of a nonprofit housing authority, agreed with Cherry: “I don’t like his (Murtha) comments,” Klein said, as he relaxed in leather couches during the late-morning bustle at the Uniontown Mall. “He undermined what we are trying to do. I support our war effort.” While the war has cost more than $200 billion and resulted in the deaths of more than 2,100 U.S. troops, nearly all area residents polled said that the U.S. must stay the course in Iraq now that the war is well underway.

Only Mike Kodric, 80, of Uniontown agreed with Murtha’s stance on Iraq.

“I believe what he (Murtha) said,” the World War II and Korean War veteran said Friday. “We should have never been there in the first place.”

At the Uniontown Mall, Tom Viencek, 65, of Rices Landing, an Army veteran who fought in Vietnam, said he is opposed to the war, but added that withdrawing now is not the right answer.

“I know how these guys feel away from home and so young,” Viencek, who was selling sports memorabilia, said. “We get ourselves into these situations we can’t get out of, but if we withdraw now we lose face. But we do over-commit; we can’t be the world’s policemen.”

Nearby, Gil Pearsol, 51, of North Versailles said he “definitely” supports the war in Iraq because “it keeps the terrorists away from our shores.”

Pearsol, who was also set up in the mall Friday selling sports memorabilia and sports cards, said the undermining of the war effort is too reminiscent of Vietnam for his liking and is worried about “peaceniks” helping to create anti-war sentiment.

Mike Miller, 59, of New Salem, who was also set up selling sports related items on Black Friday, agreed: “We need to stay until they establish their own police and military,” the Vietnam veteran said.

While all three men had differing views on the war in general, they all agreed that Murtha’s comments did not help troop morale and his position of immediate withdrawal is precipitous at best.

At the Amvets Post 103 in Hopwood, Tom Kebberly, 73, of Chalk Hill said that while he initially supported the war in Iraq, his support has waned as the war has dragged on, but added that he does not support Murtha’s call for an immediate withdrawal.

“I just don’t think he has done it the right way,” the Korea War veteran said. “We can’t just walk away.”

Jim Thorpe, 56, of Lemont Furnace was more adamant in his condemning of Murtha’s comments. “We need to support our Commander and Chief,” Thorpe said as he entered the Amvets. “This is all politics, and what it boils down to is we need to support our troops and our president.”

Across town in South Union Township, Sherry Umbel, a quality controller from Friendsville, Md., and Nancy Thomas, an insurance agent from Lancaster, Ky., enjoyed a cup of coffee, caught up on old times and got away from the Black Friday bustle lunchtime at Panera Bread.

Both women took a moment to reflect on the war in Iraq.

“I think that things like Murtha said are detrimental to our soldiers and their families,” Thomas said. “These things should be debated after the war, not now.”

Umbel agreed: “I think beating up our president is not right,” Umbel said. “He thought he was doing the right thing. They all thought it was the right thing. They all thought he had the weapons.”

At Pompadour Salon in Hopwood, Linda Galiardi, a teacher in the Connellsville Area School District, said while she has maintained her opposition to the war since its inception, she also does not agree with Murtha’s call for troops to be removed from the war torn country. “I am against what Murtha said because we need a plan to get them out,” Galiardi said as she gazed at her freshly clipped hair in the mirror. “I am not in favor of the war, but since we are there we have to stick it out.”

Nearby, her hair damp from just being washed, Uniontown native Cindy Miller disagreed with Galiardi on her stance on the war, but agreed with her comments regarding Murtha.

“I have mixed emotions because a lot of our soldiers are getting killed,” Miller said. “But we need to stop terrorism. The troops and the war need our support.”

Editor’s note: The Associated Press contributed to this story.