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Who is Ardie & Why the Mission (mom’s words)

“Although Sgt. Ardie Ray Copas, wasn’t much on education and quit High School in 9th grade to work and help support his 14 brothers and sisters (more a hands-on kinda guy) he has taught more people (me most definitely even though he neve he got to see a picture of his only kid) than he could ever know or imagine. He was a very simple man, loved his family friends and helping everyone he could whether he knew you or not and was there whenever he was needed or asked almost no matter what. Even with a young new wife and baby on the way he still wanted to help people and save lives, even people not his own country to HELP this country. IT was Ardies’ mission and he did it! He was a very young, kind, poor, uneducated, happy-go-lucky kid! He was not prejudice and just loved everyone, did not care who you were, what race, sex, age or even if you were American! Ardie was just a great kid wanting to HELP and SAVE people because in those days, just as now and always will be, people can be NOT very nice as we all know. Ardie wanted to HELP and SAVE people for the future of our country to be safe and free so that we as a country know the importance of fighting FOR our country AND each other TOGETHER!”

—Betsy Copas Cintonz, Wife of Sgt. Ardie Ray Copas

His daughter’s words

These are the things I hear about my Daddy all the time from people who got to know him. Even though I never got to see him I get to know him through all the people he touched and saved. I was not even 5 months old when Daddy got killed and Mommy was only 17 but much of a wonderful, very smart young woman. Yes, I get to talk to some of the guys Daddy saved and was there when he did some of the crazy things he did and even when he died. This has been a very sad story growing up without my Daddy hero because he was out saving lives. Me being a little girl, NOPE I did not believe it and I did not want to hear that. I wanted my Daddy like all the other little girls and boys especially when I needed him! I was mad at my Daddy for many years growing up for giving his life to save others, yes I was. I couldn’t understand why my Daddy would leave my Mommy and me to go to another country to save others! Mommy said that’s what he said he was gonna do. It down right made me mad actually and I even started doubting it when I became a teenager. I figured my family was just telling me some hero story to make me feel better about my Daddy. I decided that was the best for my feelings not to be hurt and Mommy’s too actually. Yes, can you believe that? You see, when I was very little my Granny, Mommy and Papa took me to Walt Disney World. While we were gone apparently someone came in Granny’s house and stole all my Daddy’s Medals he earned from the Army that they gave Mommy and all my piggy banks full of silver dollars and lots of old coins Grandpa gave me to “feed” my piggies. So, growing up I never got to see ANY Medals of my Daddy’s until I was an adult and they were found given to me….then nearly 45 years later we were forgotten again by the White House and nearly missed getting to accept Daddy’s Congressional Medal of Honor….

—-Shyrell Jean Copas, Daughter of Sgt. Ardie Ray Copas