Family Told Obama NOT To Wear Soldier Son's Bracelet... Where is Media? (Updated 9/28/08 PM)

Barack Obama played the "me too" game during the Friday debates on September 26 after Senator John McCain mentioned that he was wearing a bracelet with the name of Cpl. Matthew Stanley, a resident of New Hampshire and a soldier that lost his life in Iraq in 2006. Obama said that he too had a bracelet. After fumbling and straining to remember the name, he revealed that his had the name of Sergeant Ryan David Jopek of Merrill, Wisconsin.

Shockingly, however, Madison resident Brian Jopek, the father of Ryan Jopek, the young soldier who tragically lost his life to a roadside bomb in 2006, recently said on a Wisconsin Public Radio show that his family had asked Barack Obama to stop wearing the bracelet with his son's name on it. Yet Obama continues to do so despite the wishes of the family.

This afternoon the Associated Press was at last able to contact Tracy Jopek, mother of Sergeant Ryan David Jopek, the KIA soldier on the bracelet that Barack Obama is using on the campaign trail. Ryan's Mother is confirming that she gave the bracelet to Mr. Obama, but is also confirming that she asked him to stop using her son's name on the campaign.

Funeral services will be held Monday in Merrill for Ryan David Jopek, a sergeant with the Antigo and Merrill-based National Guard unit who was killed while serving in Iraq.

Sgt. Jopek, 20, died Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2006 from a roadside bomb in Tikrit, Iraq. He was a member of Troop E 105th Cavalry, based in Antigo and Merrill. The unit was mobilized to Iraq on June 6, 2005 as part of the Appleton-based 2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry and is scheduled to return home later this month.

Sgt. Ryan D. Jopek

Born June 1, 1986 in Alliance, Neb. he was a son of Tracy (Smith) Jopek of Merrill and Brian Jopek of Antigo. He graduated from Merrill High School in 2004.

Sgt. Jopek followed in his father's footsteps and joined the Wisconsin Army National Guard in August, 2003 as a scout assigned to Troop E, 105th Calvary. In Iraq, the unit was responsible for providing convoy security.

Sgt. Jopek was the recipient of the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Army Commendation medals. Additional medals include Good Conduct, National Defense Service, Iraqi Campaign, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service, and the Armed Forces Reserve with "M" Device. He also received the Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon and the Combat Action Badge. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant posthumously.

He enjoyed playing basketball, soccer, golf and football. He was also interested in music, monster trucks, airplanes, and his 1966 Chevrolet half-ton pick-up truck, which he planned to restore.

Sgt. Jopek was an avid Chicago Bears fan and his family said he modeled his life after his childhood hero, the legendary Bear running back Walter Payton. He loved all of his many friends and family.

In addition to his parents, survivors include a sister, Jessica Jopek of Merrill; a brother, Steven Jopek, Merrill; maternal grandparents, Donald and Carrie Smith of Bayard, Neb.; his paternal grandparents, Joseph and Peg Jopek of Antigo; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Funeral services will be held Monday at 10 a.m. at the Merrill High School Field House. Rev. Robert Smallman and Rev. Charles Hoffmann will officiate.

Burial will be in Merrill Memorial Park Cemetery. A luncheon will follow at the Merrill National Guard Armory.

source: Antigo Daily Journal, Aug. 9, 2006

Well, that’s weird, ‘cause I was reading on the Internet today the statement by the mother. The article quoted her as saying something to the effect that she’d given him the bracelet and asked him to wear it, but also asked that he not use in on the campaign trail, in speeches or rallies or debates. But she said that since Obama was responding to McCain’s talking about his bracelet, that that was okay, and she was happy about it. Maybe the article misquoted her. Anyway, this sort of stuff is so petty and doesn’t matter to me at all. I’m watching my 401K dwindle to nothing, worried about my job, worried about my retirement years in the future, worried about what I’ll do about healthcare if I lose my job. I really think it’s a waste of time and doesn’t get votes to talk about this silly stuff. They’re both wearing bracelets. Good. Maybe that’ll help them remember there’s a war going on, when they start talking about lipstick the next time.

As mentioned on the other threads for this article, the reality is that “the family” said no such thing. Dad spoke for himself and his ex-wife and, as is often the case, ex-wives have different opinions from their former spouse. In this case she has, in fact, come out and said she does support the way Obama invoked her son’s name. I tend to assume she’s an Obama supporter since she gave him the bracelet knowing full well where he stands on the war.

In fact, I doubt the stories about the mom I read today would have even been published if the ones based on the dad’s quotes not been published. Unfortunately the way he said what he said has created a scenario where we’ll be up against a grieving mother.

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