From a contemporary press report:
Joseph Ellis Skaggs, Jr., Colonel, United States Army (retired) of Reston, Virginia, died at age 84 on July 21, 2003 at his home.
Colonel Skaggs was born on September 26, 1918 in Leavenworth, Kansas to the late Joseph Ellis Sr. and Margaret Marshall Cole Skaggs.
Colonel Skaggs served in the Army for 32 years. His tours included World War II, Korea and Viet Nam. Among his many awards are the Silver Star, Bronze Star and Legion of Merit.
After retiring from military service, he was employed by Bechtel for 11 years as a logistician, working in Alaska and Saudi Arabia.
He settled in Reston, Virginia, in 1985. He was the beloved husband for 60 years of Eileen K. Skaggs; the loving and devoted fathewr of Joseph E. Skaggs III of Emigrant, Montana, Laura Skaggs McCord of Salinas, California, Stephen Skaggs of Madison, Wisconsin, Kevin Skaggs of Madison, Wisconsin, David Skaggs of Sterling, Virginia, Barbara Skaggs of Maui, Hawaii and Sean Skaggs of Solina Beach, California; brother of Addison Skaggs of Naples, Florida. Also survived by seven grandchildren.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Fort Myer Old Post Chapel, on Wednesday, August 27, at 8:45 a.m. Interment will immediately follow at Arlington National Cemetery.
Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.
Reviewed by: Michael Howard