Skelton's medals

Sgt. Brad Skelton's military awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

He has been posthumously promoted to staff sergeant.

Skelton is the fourth local soldier to fall in fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. Army Sgt. Robert G. Davis, 23, died in Afghanistan on Aug. 18, 2005. U.S. Army Pfc. Jeremy Shank, 18, was killed in Balad, Iraq, on Sept. 6, 2006. 1st Lt. Dan Riordan died last June 23 in Taji, Iraq. The former Southeast Missouri State University student was 24 and a St. Louis native.

Skelton became the eighth Missouri National Guard soldier to die in Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. To date, 3,950 U.S. military personnel have died in Iraq and another 478 have died in and around Afghanistan.