Our thoughts are with the family, friends, staff and colleagues of Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), who passed away today at Virginia Hospital Center after suffering complications from gallbladder surgery. He was 77.

Murtha was a decorated Vietnam War veteran who rose to prominence in Congress by earning a reputation as the “King of Pork,” a nickname bestowed upon him due to his ability to expertly funnel earmarks to his home district. More recently, Murtha became a crucial symbol of the antiwar movement when the well-known hawk announced he was in favor of withdrawing troops from Iraq in 2005.