Gordonville soldier Sgt. Bradley Skelton killed in Iraq

Sgt. Bradley Skelton of Gordonville was killed in Iraq Wednesday, a spokesman for the Missouri National Guard in Farmington said.

Skelton was serving with the Missouri National Guard's 1138th Engineer Battalion in Baghdad.

The 1138th is involved in route clearance in Baghdad.

The cause of Skelton's death was not yet available.

Skelton was one of 100 members of the battalion deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom last July. The 1138th is based in Farmington.

Skelton has served over 20 years in the National Guard. The tour was his second in Iraq. His first tour was from February 2004 to March 2005. He volunteered to return, his uncle Charles Skelton said. "He told me he wanted to give someone else a break who was married and had a family."

The sergeant grew up in Gordonville and graduated from Jackson High School. His parents, Harold and Dorothy Skelton, are deceased. His sister, Carmen Robinson, and her family live near Sikeston. Charles Skelton also lives in Gordonville.

He said his nephew was planning a trip to Australia on his next leave and he thought he was getting ready to be discharged in April. He said he liked hunting and fishing. He had worked for a water softener company and at a warehouse before going back to Iraq.

Funeral arrangements are just beginning.

"I'm kind of at a loss right now," Charles said. "He has been very loyal to the community and especially his service."

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Other local soldiers killed in Iraq:

Sgt. Robert G. Davis

1st Lt. Dan Riordan

Pfc. Jeremy Shank