JEFFERSON CITY — A sergeant with the Missouri National Guard has been killed in Iraq, the Guard said Thursday.
Missouri Army National Guard 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,” said Maj. Gen. King Sidwell, adjutant general of the Missouri National Guard. “I knew him personally and was very proud of his decision to rejoin the Missouri National Guard for this deployment.” .
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 launcher.
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 unit in July 2007.
His military awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal and Army Achievement Medal.