I noted in another post that Murtha is typical of a certain class of small town politicians, more in the past than today. These are the fellows who make a long career out of their military service. He operated some sort of car was in Johnstown and volunteered to be mobilized as a reservist and field grade officer. He won election when the incumbent died a couple years later solely off of his military service and he has waved the bloody shirt of his service and wounds ever since. Guys like this used to be much more numerous in elected office. Sam Ervin was sort of that type but once he got in the Senate he shut up about his WW1 service.
I would prefer to let veterans have their own personal legacy about their wartime experiences, whatever it is to them, and never want to question them. As far as I am concerned, a vet can make up whatever stories they want to, and I am not going to question them.
In my opinion, what happens with people like Murtha and Kerry is that they use their wartime legacy to fight political battles in wartime, and I believe it is harmful to my country. If their wartime experience is their currency, and they are buying the downfall of our country with that currency, then they should be challenged on that currency.