Private First Class Skaggs was a member of Company D, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Provisional Marine Brigade. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy at Obong-ni Ridge, Changyong, South Korea, on 17 August 1950.

Skaggs was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.