Once a Marine, Always a Marine
Many former Marines have gone on to serve in Congress, often on committees overseeing military interests. Former Marines on Capitol Hill:
 | REP. JOHN P. MURTHA Corps: 1952 to 1955, and 1966 to 1967; and as a reservist from 1955 to 1966, and 1967 to 1990. Congress: Pennsylvania Democratic representative, 1974 to present. Appropriations Committee, ranking member and former chairman of the defense subcommittee. Murtha was instrumental in restoring funding for the V-22 Osprey in the late 1980s while a member of the Marine Corps Reserve, and again in the 1990s. He is a former Marine drill instructor. | |
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 | FORMER SEN. JOHN GLENN Corps: 1943 to 1965. NASA astronaut from 1959 to 1964. Congress: Ohio Democratic senator from 1975 to his retirement in 1999. Armed Services Committee for 14 years. Glenn was a key supporter of the Harrier and the Osprey when each faced battles within the Pentagon. He flew in both aircraft and was particularly influential given his aviation background. He is a close friend of retired Lt. Gen. Thomas H. Miller, a founding father of the Harrier program and a key Marine proponent of vertical aircraft. | |
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 | SEN. JOHN W. WARNER Corps: 1950 to 1952. Ground officer with 1st Marine Air Wing in South Korea. Following active service, he remained in the Marine Reserve for 10 years. Also served in the Navy from 1945 to 1946. Congress: Virginia Republican senator from 1979 to present. Armed Services Committee, former chairman who is due to regain the post in January. Has supported Marine aviation programs, including the Osprey. | |
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 | FORMER SEN. CHARLES S. ROBB Corps: 1961 to 1970, and as a reservist from 1970 to 1991. Congress: Virginia Democratic senator who served two terms before losing reelection bid in 2000. Armed Services Committee member. Known as a staunch Marine ally. Two years ago he called the Joint Strike Fighter "critical" for the Navy and Marines, and spoke of the importance of deploying the Osprey. "Robb always had his door open for me," said retired Marine Gen. Anthony Zinni. | |
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 | REP. LANE EVANS Corps: 1969 to 1971. Congress: Illinois Democratic representative was elected in 1982. Armed Services Committee member since 1988. Evans is a supporter of the Marine Corps' Osprey program. | |
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Sources: Congressional Quarterly's "Politics in America," "The Complete Marquis Who's Who," lawmakers' official biographies, lobbying disclosure reports and interviews.Researched by Times staff writers Alan C. Miller and Kevin Sack and news researchers Janet Lundblad and Robert Patrick
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