Friends, family welcome home Mo. Guard unit

The Farmington, Mo., armory was packed Sunday night as friends, family, high-ranking officials and Missouri residents welcomed home nearly 100 soldiers from the Missouri Army National Guard's 1138th Engineer Company from their tour in Iraq, said Staff Sgt. Heather Carden, a public affairs representative for the 1140th Engineer Batallion.

The company left a year ago for deployment in Baghdad, where they cleared routes of nearly 100 improvised explosives and conducted more than 500 combat missions.

While there, Sgt. Bradley Skelton, 40, of Gordonville, and Sgt. Matthew Straughter of Belleville, Ill., were killed. A third soldier was seriously wounded, Carden said.

The unit's chaplain gave an invocation, offering prayers of remembrance for Skelton and Straughter, as well as Sgt. Josh Eckhoff, of Ballwin, Mo., currently recovering in a U.S. hospital.

Skelton died Feb. 6 when his vehicle struck an explosive device. Eckhoff was injured in the same incident.

In addition to Skelton, six local soldiers were deployed with the company: one from Chaffee, Mo., three from Cape Girardeau, one from Scott City and one from Marble Hill, Mo.

The Patriot Guard and the Farmington Police Department provided escorts for the returning soldiers, Carden said.

The drill floor of the armory was closed for the ceremony, and the soldiers formed a line outside, marching in where the crowds waited for their arrival.

"Everyone just went wild," Carden said.

Capt. Darren Gove, company commander, and 1st Sgt. Robert Haaf were presented with gift baskets to show appreciation for their command of the soldiers while deployed.

The ceremony was also attended by Maj. Gen. King Sidwell, adjutant general of the Missouri National Guard; Lt. Col. John Oberkirsch, from the 35th Engineer Brigade; Lt. Col. William Blaylock, commander of the 1140th Engineer Battalion, Missouri National Guard; State Command Sgt. Maj. Matt Jenkins; and Command Sgt. Maj. Dan Armour of the 1140th Engineer Battalion.

Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Moore was presented with a newly refurbished truck that friends, family and local businesses had donated time and material so he would be surprised upon his return home, Carden said.

Sen. Kevin Engler, R-Farmington, mentioned that it was always better to attend homecoming ceremonies than those held at deployment, because "you still get to see tears, but they're tears of joy," Carden said.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 245

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