Traveling in the car with his widow, Myeshia Johnson, were the fallen soldier's mother, Cowanda Jones-Johnson, and Rep. Frederica Wilson, a Democrat who represents Johnson's hometown of Miami Gardens (it's unclear who else, if anyone, was in the car).

Wilson told CNN the president's call was on speakerphone in the car.

The president said Johnson "knew what he signed up for...but when it happens it hurts anyway," Wilson told Local 10 and CNN. Wilson said she didn't hear the whole call, but that Myeshia Johnson was upset by it.

"When she hung up the phone she looked at me and said, 'He didn't even know his name.' Now that's the worst part," Wilson told CNN.

Johnson cried during the phone call and thanked the president when it was time to hang up, Wilson said. Wilson added that Johnson was already overwhelmed — she had just learned there could be no open casket at the funeral because of the condition of her husband's body, Wilson said.