SKELTON, Huston LaFate, was born June 1894 in Lewis Co., Tennessee. He died in Maryland of a heart attack and was buried in Maryland. He was inducted at Allens Creek, Wayne Co., TN in July 1917 and rose from private to First Sergeant by the time he was discharged in 1919. He immediately reenlisted. During the war he was in the infantry, serving with the 7th Division of the 56th Infantry. After his re-enlistment he was in the Chemical Warfare Service from 1920 until 1937. He re-enlisted nine time and also served in World War II. He served with Joe HIGGINS of Wayne County, Tennessee. He was a brother to Barney SKELTON [see earlier sketch]
Huston LaFate SKELTON married in March 1922 to Lucy NUGENT. They had two children: Dora May and Huston Jr. who served in the Navy. Huston LaFate SKELTON was the son of Sam M. SKELTON (29 Aug 1860 – 6 May 1928, br. Skelton Cem.), and Annie MATHIS (9 Jan 1865 – 1945). His siblings were Barney, Bob, Commodore, Arthur, Martha WHITEHEAD, Olin, Stella FRAZIER and Mae DICKEY.
The following article appeared in the “Baltimore Evening Sun”, Baltimore, Maryland, no date.
“28-Year Veteran Re-Enlists”
“First Sergeant Huston L. SKELTON, who gives Edgewood Arsenal as a home address, recently completed 28 years in the Army. What was the first thing he did after getting discharged?
“Right! He enlisted again. There was nothing to it. He simply accepted his discharge certificate, filed it away with eight others he has accumulated since he enlisted in July 1917, and immediately re-enlisted for his tenth “hitch”.
“Most of the 51 year old professional soldier’s career has been spent at the Chemical Warfare Center at Edgewood Arsenal. He was transferred from the infantry to the Chemical Warfare Service in 1920 when it was a new branch of the Army. As a pioneer in that service he came to Edgewood Arsenal in 1921 and remained there until 1937.
“Native of Tennessee”
“A native of Hohenwald, Tenn. Sergeant SKELTON began his army career with the 7th Division of the 56 Infantry which served overseas in the first World War. He received his first discharge certificate during the demobilization program in 1919. He re-enlisted immediately.
“After leaving Edgewood Arsenal in 1937 he served the CWS in the Panama Canal Department until 1939. He was then assigned to Fort Benning, GA. He was there when he enlisted for the ninth time in July 1941.
“At the beginning of the second World War, Sergeant SKELTON was back at Edgewood Arsenal assigned as first sergeant to Headquarters Company. And that’s what he is today.
“Nine Hash Marks.”
“Nine hash marks adorn his left sleeve, each one signifying three years in the Army. There are also two v-shaped overseas chevrons signifying foreign service in World War I. He has the Expert Gunner’s Medal for all the CWS weapons and the Expert Rifleman’s Medal.
“In March 1922, Sergeant SKELTON married. He has a 23 year old daughter, Dora May and a 21 year old son, Huston, Jr., who has been in – of all things – the Navy for three years.”