Staff Sergeant Bradley J. Skelton, of Gordonville, Missouri. He grew up in Gordonville and graduated from Jackson High School in 1985. Bradley served over 20 years in the Missouri National Guard, enlisting in 1984. His first tour of duty in Iraq was from February 2004 to March 2005. While a civilian, he worked at Schaper's IGA and Ceramo in Jackson, Bio-Kiowa, Tri-State Water, and Elfrink Transportation in Cape Girardeau. He also served many years as a firefighter with Gordonville Fire Department. In early 2007, he learned his unit was being re-deployed to Iraq. Although he was retired from the National Guard, he volunteered to go in place of a married soldier who had children. Assigned to the 1138th Engineer Company, 35th Engineer Brigade, Missouri Army National Guard, based at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, he left for Iraq in July 2007. He died of wounds suffered when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device during combat operations. He was preceded in death by his father, Harold L. "Chubb" Skelton (1924-1994) and Dorothy M. "Dot" (Willa) Skelton (1932-1998). Bradley is survived by his sister Carmen (Jerry) Robinson and their children, Brian, Caleb, and Christy of Sikeston, Missouri; his uncles, Charlie (Carrie) Skelton of Gordonville, Joe (the late Pauline) Naylor of San Antonio, Texas, and Allen (Betty) Willa of Melbourne, Florida; an aunt, Evelyn (the late Bernard) Dake of Jackson; cousins, Pearla (Terry) Smith, Steve (Susan) Skelton, all of Jackson, Kent (Donna) Skelton of Perryville, Keith (Alice) Skelton of Oak Ridge, Patty (Gary) Matlock of Pocahontas, Becky Thorne and Connie Adams of Jackson, Donna (Russ) Whitworth of New Hamburg, Missouri, Tanya Meeks of Sikeston, Stacey (Dave) Stephens of Alexandria, Virginia, Leslie Gestring of Caruthersville, Mark Skelton of Los Angeles, California, Tammy (Randy) Abbott of Fruitland, Missouri. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a paternal uncle, Leo (Juanita) Skelton, and a paternal aunt, Pauline Naylor. Bio by: Sue
Bradley was promoted to staff sergeant posthumously. His military awards include: Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal 3, National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with "M" Device (Arabic Numeral 2 and Silver Hour Glass Device), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon 2, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon 5, Combat Action Badge, Weapons Qualification Badge (Bar – Weapon, Rifle Inscription, Expert), Driver and Mechanic Badge (Bar - Driver W for wheeled vehicles), State Military Awards: Utah National Guard 2002 Olympic Winter Games Service Ribbon, Missouri National Guard Commendation Ribbon 6, Missouri National Guard 20 Year Long Service Ribbon, Missouri National Guard Basic Training Ribbon.
Bradley was promoted to staff sergeant posthumously. His military awards include: Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal 3, National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with "M" Device (Arabic Numeral 2 and Silver Hour Glass Device), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon 2, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon 5, Combat Action Badge, Weapons Qualification Badge (Bar – Weapon, Rifle Inscription, Expert), Driver and Mechanic Badge (Bar - Driver W for wheeled vehicles), State Military Awards: Utah National Guard 2002 Olympic Winter Games Service Ribbon, Missouri National Guard Commendation Ribbon 6, Missouri National Guard 20 Year Long Service Ribbon, Missouri National Guard Basic Training Ribbon.
Staff Sergeant Bradley J. Skelton, of Gordonville, Missouri. He grew up in Gordonville and graduated from Jackson High School in 1985. Bradley served over 20 years in the Missouri National Guard, enlisting in 1984. His first tour of duty in Iraq was from February 2004 to March 2005. While a civilian, he worked at Schaper's IGA and Ceramo in Jackson, Bio-Kiowa, Tri-State Water, and Elfrink Transportation in Cape Girardeau. He also served many years as a firefighter with Gordonville Fire Department. In early 2007, he learned his unit was being re-deployed to Iraq. Although he was retired from the National Guard, he volunteered to go in place of a married soldier who had children. Assigned to the 1138th Engineer Company, 35th Engineer Brigade, Missouri Army National Guard, based at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, he left for Iraq in July 2007. He died of wounds suffered when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device during combat operations. He was preceded in death by his father, Harold L. "Chubb" Skelton (1924-1994) and Dorothy M. "Dot" (Willa) Skelton (1932-1998). Bradley is survived by his sister Carmen (Jerry) Robinson and their children, Brian, Caleb, and Christy of Sikeston, Missouri; his uncles, Charlie (Carrie) Skelton of Gordonville, Joe (the late Pauline) Naylor of San Antonio, Texas, and Allen (Betty) Willa of Melbourne, Florida; an aunt, Evelyn (the late Bernard) Dake of Jackson; cousins, Pearla (Terry) Smith, Steve (Susan) Skelton, all of Jackson, Kent (Donna) Skelton of Perryville, Keith (Alice) Skelton of Oak Ridge, Patty (Gary) Matlock of Pocahontas, Becky Thorne and Connie Adams of Jackson, Donna (Russ) Whitworth of New Hamburg, Missouri, Tanya Meeks of Sikeston, Stacey (Dave) Stephens of Alexandria, Virginia, Leslie Gestring of Caruthersville, Mark Skelton of Los Angeles, California, Tammy (Randy) Abbott of Fruitland, Missouri. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a paternal uncle, Leo (Juanita) Skelton, and a paternal aunt, Pauline Naylor. Bio by: Sue
Bradley was promoted to staff sergeant posthumously. His military awards include: Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal 3, National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with "M" Device (Arabic Numeral 2 and Silver Hour Glass Device), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon 2, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon 5, Combat Action Badge, Weapons Qualification Badge (Bar – Weapon, Rifle Inscription, Expert), Driver and Mechanic Badge (Bar - Driver W for wheeled vehicles), State Military Awards: Utah National Guard 2002 Olympic Winter Games Service Ribbon, Missouri National Guard Commendation Ribbon 6, Missouri National Guard 20 Year Long Service Ribbon, Missouri National Guard Basic Training Ribbon.
Bradley was promoted to staff sergeant posthumously. His military awards include: Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal 3, National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with "M" Device (Arabic Numeral 2 and Silver Hour Glass Device), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon 2, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon 5, Combat Action Badge, Weapons Qualification Badge (Bar – Weapon, Rifle Inscription, Expert), Driver and Mechanic Badge (Bar - Driver W for wheeled vehicles), State Military Awards: Utah National Guard 2002 Olympic Winter Games Service Ribbon, Missouri National Guard Commendation Ribbon 6, Missouri National Guard 20 Year Long Service Ribbon, Missouri National Guard Basic Training Ribbon.
