Joe Repya led a counter demonstration of veterans in June during an appearance by John Kerry at the University of Minnesota. (MPR file photo)
ARLINGTON, VA —
Today, Retired Lt. Colonel Joe Repya issued the following statement on Barack Obama’s cancelled visit to Ramstein and Landstuhl:
“The most solemn duty of a commander in chief is to fulfill his responsibility to the men and women who serve this country in uniform. Barack Obama had scheduled a visit with wounded American troops who have served with honor and distinction in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but he broke that commitment, instead flitting from one European capital to the next. Several explanations were offered, none was convincing and each was at odds with the statements of American military leaders in Germany and Washington.
For a young man so apt at playing president, Barack Obama badly misjudged the important demands of the office he seeks. Visits with world leaders and speeches to cheering Europeans shouldn’t be a substitute for comforting injured American heroes.”
Army Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Joe Repya served 30 years of duty and three wars, Vietnam, Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
He was born in 1946 in Gary, Indiana. He was the oldest son of a disabled combat wounded veteran of the European Campaign of World War II. Awarded an ROTC scholarship he attended Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, graduating in 1969.
Upon graduation he was appointed to the Regular Army as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry.
His 30 years of service in the US Army (12 years Active and 18 years in the National Guard & Reserves) lasted from 1969 until 2006. He served as a Combat Infantry Rifle Platoon Leader in Viet Nam in 1970/71 with the 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment (Band of Brothers “Currahee’s”), and an Aero Rifle Platoon Leader with A Troop, 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment. In Desert Storm 1990/91, he served as a Combat Helicopter Pilot and Staff Officer with the 4th Brigade (Aviation), 1st Infantry Division (The Big Red One). He initially retired in 1998.
After the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001, he was one of 12,000 US Army retirees who volunteered for Retiree Recall to Active US Army duty for Operation Iraqi Freedom.
LTC Repya was selected as one of only 350 retirees who were returned to active duty status.
At 58 years old on October 1, 2004 he returned as an Aviation Branch Officer for two more additional years of active duty service with the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, KY.
He served for nine months as the G-3 Air for the Division. In 2005 he served as the Senior Liaison Officer for the 101st Airborne Division with the Multi National Corps Headquarters at Camp Victory, Baghdad, Iraq.
He reentered retired status at the end of September 2006 at the age of 60.
More about Joe:
Joe is a classic citizen patriot and activist. He first came to public attention in March 2003 when, disturbed by the anti-war campaign mounted by Minnesota liberals, he arranged for the production of lawn signs saying “Liberate Iraq — Support Our Troops.” His effort garnered a lot of publicity, and Joe eventually distributed 30,000 signs.
HE WROTE FROM IRAQ:
* Two weeks ago, as I was starting my sixth month of duty in Iraq, I was forced to return to the USA for surgery for an injury I sustained prior to my deployment. With luck, I’ll return to Iraq in January to finish my tour.
* I left Baghdad and a war that has every indication that we are winning, to return to a demoralized country much like the one I returned to in 1971 after my tour in Vietnam.
* Maybe it’s because I’ll turn 60 years old in just four months, but I’m tired:
* I’m tired of spineless politicians, both Democrat and Republican who lack the courage, fortitude, and character to see these difficult tasks through.
* I’m tired of the hypocrisy of politicians who want to rewrite history when the going gets tough.
* I’m tired of the so called “Elite Left” that prolongs this war by giving aid and comfort to our enemy, just as they did during the Vietnam War.
* I’m tired of anti-war protesters showing up at the funerals of our fallen in a just and noble cause, only to be cruelly tormented on the funeral day by cowardly protesters is beyond shameful.
* I’m tired that some are more concerned about the treatment of captives then they are the slaughter and beheading of our citizens and allies.
* I’m tired that when we find mass graves it is seldom reported by the press, but mistreat a prisoner and it is front page news.
* Mostly, I’m tired that the people of this great nation didn’t learn from history that there is no substitute for Victory.
Joe Repya
Lieutenant Colonel
U. S. Army
101st Airborne Division
This is an article he wrote about John McCain that he did for Townhall.
One Hundred Years
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Wild Thing’s comment……..
Hussein and his supporters are contemptuous of our men and women in uniform. I hope McCain really hammers Obama about this.
Thank God for people like Joe Repya–they are like the Energizer Bunny and Timex. They keep going and coming back for more because they love this nation.
Obviously Obamanation really doesn’t care about how this nation will get along in the future, he’s more concerned with the rest of the world. Wrong move. You, if you want to be President, have to care about America’s people. You can’t just put us all under the control of the government and tell us to play fair when you didn’t play fair.
OBAMA IS ALL ABOUT OBAMA- HE WANTS TO BE SOME KIND OF DICTATOR TO THE WORLD !!- HE THINKS CUZ HE IS “BLACK” HE CAN HE AWAY WITH ANYTHING-!! IF ANYONE GETS IN HIS FACE ABOUT IT HE WILL DISMISSES THEM LIKE THEY ARE GARBAGE-!! HE IS NOT GOING TO CARE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE PO FOR WHAT HE DID — HE ONLY CARES ABOUT HIMSELF- HE COULD NOT GET ANY PHOTOS THERE SO HE DID NOT GO!!!! THAT SHOULD GIVE EVERY TRUE AMERICAN A WAKE UP CALL AS TO WHAT OBAMA IS REALLY ABOUT!
Col Joe is my kind of officer. I am sure I would have been proud to serve under him. The 17th Cavalry was a butt kicking outfit in Vietnam.
I wonder how much media Col Joe gets. I bet it is not much. He is another one of the loyal, patriotic, honest and outspoken Americans who should be in public office instead of the self serving crooks we are stuck with.
Yes he sounds like a first class officer. One you could depend on when the going got tough.
Ditto what Tom said, I too would be proud to serve under a firebrand like Col Joe.
“Mostly, I’m tired that the people of this great nation didn’t learn from history that there is no substitute for Victory.” Well said Joe
Lynn, AMEN to all you said!!!!
Cheryl, yes I agree, that should be a huge wake up call to people. Hard to believe how he snubbed the wounded and did it with no care at all how people would take it. He truly does not care about them.
Tom, I agree so much. It would be awesome if he would be in public office.
Mark, yes he sure does. It sure felt good to see this and read about him.
Jack, yes, when I read what he had written in his email back to America when he was in Iraq, it reminded me of all of you Veterans on here and the things you all have said so beautifully too.