Army Staff Sgt. Bradley J. Skelton

Died February 6, 2008 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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40, of Gordonville, Mo.; assigned to the 1138th Engineer Company, 35th Engineer Brigade, Missouri Army National Guard, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.; died Feb. 6 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds sustained when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device during combat operations.

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Missouri National Guardsman killed in Iraq

The Associated Press

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — A Missouri National Guard soldier has been killed in Iraq, the Guard said Thursday.

Sgt. Bradley J. Skelton, 40, of Gordonville, was killed Wednesday when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device, the Guard said in a news release.

Skelton, who came out of retirement to serve on this deployment, was a member of the 1138th Engineer Company, headquartered in Farmington. He has been posthumously promoted to staff sergeant, the Guard said.

“I am saddened beyond words about the loss of Sgt. Skelton. I knew him personally and was very proud of his decision to rejoin the Missouri National Guard for this deployment,” said Maj. Gen. King Sidwell, adjutant general of the Missouri National Guard.

It was the second soldier death for the 1138th Engineer Company in a week, Sidwell said. Sgt. Matthew F. Straughter was killed on Jan. 31 when his vehicle was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade.

The unit clears roads by locating explosive devices to maintain traffic flow along supply routes.

Skelton originally enlisted in the Missouri Army National Guard in 1984 and deployed with the 1140th Engineer Battalion to Iraq in 2004. He came out of retirement to mobilize with the 1138th Engineers in July 2007.

His military awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal and Army Achievement Medal.

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Slain sergeant volunteered for second tour

The Associated Press

Army Sgt. Bradley J. Skelton had done one tour in Iraq, but last year volunteered to go again because he thought someone with more to lose might be better off staying home.

“He told me he wanted to give someone else a break who was married and had a family,” said his uncle, Charles Skelton.

Skelton, 40, of Gordonville, Mo., was killed Feb. 6 in Baghdad of wounds from an explosive. He was assigned to Fort Leonard Wood, Kan.

A 1985 high school graduate, he served many years as a firefighter with the Gordonville Fire Department.

“He was a good guy, outspoken, always there to help anybody, as much with the fire department as he was in the service,” fire

chief Mark Koerber said.

He was a hunter and fisherman who collected arrowheads and loved the military. “Rambrad” was one of his nicknames. “He died doing exactly what he wanted to do,” said friend Brian McCallister.

McCallister has known Skelton for 38 years. As young boys they lived down the street from each other. “He was rambunctious,” McCallister said. “He was always available to do something with.”

He is survived by his sister, Carmen.