Fallen Utah Soldier Welcomed Home By Friends, Family
Oct 26, 2020, 11:32 PM | Updated: 11:32 pm
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Dozens gathered in the cold at Salt Lake City International Airport Monday night to welcome home the body of a Utah soldier killed at a base in Washington state.
U.S. Army Specialist Skylar Oliver, 24, joined the army in 2018 and was assigned to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, located near Tacoma Washington. That is where he was earlier this month on Oct. 17 when he was killed in an incident that officials said was not related to training.
“I miss my brother a lot,” Oliver’s younger brother McKay Oliver said, unable to hold back tears. “He was a really good guy. And I hate to see him go like this. None of us were expecting it.”
Even in his heartache, Oliver was more concerned about his brother’s wife and two young children than himself.
“If there’s anything I can do to help [Courtney] I will. I can get a job to help her. I just feel really bad because nobody was expecting it,” he said.
The family shared these pics of Oliver with me. He leaves behind his wife and 2 young children. We spoke to his 14 year old brother who is understandably heartbroken. But even in his heartache, he was thinking about Oliver’s wife and kids and wondering how he could support them. https://t.co/SQPuGEDhRp pic.twitter.com/ZNAV7CIRNA
— Matt Rascon (@MattRasconNews) October 27, 2020
“He was so kind and caring to every person he met. And I’m not surprised by how many people are here,” said Reggie Smith, a close friend of Skylar Oliver. “We were always fishing or tubing or anything that involves the outdoors that’s what we were doing.”
The Army has not provided details surrounding Oliver’s death, only saying it is investigating, as is standard procedure.
A group of motorcycle riders followed by a line of cars escorted Oliver to Ogden Friday night. He will eventually be taken to Roy to be laid to rest.
“I really miss my brother. If there’s anything I can do to help him come back I would,” McKay Oliver said.
