Fallen Gordonville soldier honored in two ceremonies today

JEFFERSON CITY -- Memorial services will take place in Gordonville and Jefferson City to honor a Gordonville man who died in Iraq one year ago today.

Family, friends and others will gather at 4 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Cemetery, 248 Albert Lane in Gordonville, for an informal service to remember Staff Sgt. Brad Skelton.

He and another fallen soldier are the subjects of a memorial by the 35th Engineer Brigade (Sapper) of the Missouri National Guard at 2 p.m. at the Ike Skelton Training Site in Jefferson City, Mo.

Brad Skelton was killed by an improvised explosive device in Iraq one year ago today. Sgt. Matthew Straughter was killed by a rocket propelled grenade on Jan. 31, 2008. Both belonged to the 35th Engineer Brigade.

Skelton originally enlisted in the Missouri Army National Guard in 1984, during his senior year in high school according to a statement issued by the Missouri National Guard Public Affairs Office. He deployed with the 1140th Engineer Battalion to Iraq in 2004-2005. He came out of retirement to mobilize with the unit in July 2007 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Straughter joined the Missouri Army National Guard as a combat engineer in December 2005. Before his deployment to Iraq in July 2007, he served on Operation Jump Start, the border security mission in Arizona, from November 2006 to June 2007. During that assignment he assisted in patrols and basic border protection.

The Gordonville memorial is being organized by Ross Gartman, who served with Skelton during an earlier tour in Iraq.

Gartman said he plans to follow the graveside gathering with a brief talk on Senate Bill 110, which would allow interchanges along Interstate 55 to be named in honor of those who died in combat since Sept. 11.

The legislation update will be at the Gordonville Grill, which is near the cemetery.

State Sen. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau introduced Bill 110, but Gartman wants to make sure the signs are privately funded and is planning an event to raise money for the signs, which will cost an estimated $2,000 each.

pmcnichol@semissourian.com

388-3646