A press release from the Missouri National Guard says that Sgt. Skelton was killed when his vehicle struck an IED (improvised explosive device). He was deployed with the 1138th Engineer Company, whose primary responsibility was to locate and disable IED's along military supply routes.

Skelton was deployed to Iraq from 2004 to 2005, and had come out of retirement to serve a second deployment in the Middle East in July 2007. He joined the National Guard in 1984, during his senior year in high school.

"I knew [Skelton] personally and was very proud of his decision to rejoin the Missouri National Guard for this deployment," said Maj. Gen. King Sidwell, adjutant general of the Missouri National Guard.

In an interview before his deployment, Skelton said he wanted to serve with friends who were returning to Iraq, and hoped his past experience would benefit newer soldiers as well.

Skelton is the eighth Missouri National Guard soldier to have lost his or her life during the current conflict in Iraq. Skelton was 40 years old.