The Knoxville News Sentinel described the chilling mountain winds that cut through Bakers Gap Baptist Church Cemetery in Mountain City, Tennessee Wednesday morning as Army Spc. Fred Z. Greene was buried with full military honors.
Spc. Greene was another casualty in the war against terrorism, this time however, like the 9/11 victims, he was killed on American soil. He died in the attack at Fort Hood, Texas along with 12 others - a massacre inflicted by a self-styled enemy combatant that was also a member of the U.S. Army; Major Nidal Malik Hasan.
Several friends, family and military representatives, including Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, attended the funeral service.
Greene was remembered as a loyal, selfless,optimistic and compassionate soldier by his company commander, Capt. James Pence.
“The Army did not build these traits,” Pence told everyone. “Fred’s values can be attributed to his upbringing from his loving family.”
Pence said Greene would talk often of his love for his wife, Cristie, and his daughters, Haley and Allison, each of whom received a carefully folded American flag during the funeral service, the Sentinel reported.
Spc. Greene entered the Army in May 2008 and had received the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Medal and was qualified as expert on the M-4. He was a member of the 510th Engineering Company, 20th Battalion, 36th Brigade based at Fort Hood.
The Sentinel stated that Greene was preparing for deployment to Afghanistan. Capt. Pence said Greene would still be with his fellow soldiers as they patrol that country during their deployment.
“He immediately impressed his fellow soldiers and leaders with his intelligence, hard work ethic and optimistic personality,” Pence said. “We will truly miss him.”
