Spc. Fred Greene received a hero's goodbye Wednesday, nearly two weeks after a gunman killed the U.S. Army soldier and 12 others at the Ft. Hood, Texas Army Base. More than 100 people, including National Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, paid their respects to Greene at a graveside service in Mountain City.
“We now commit the body of our brother Fred to the ground,” Chaplain (Maj.) David Oberdieck said during the ceremony at Bakers Gap Baptist Church Cemetery. “Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust."
As Oberdieck shared those words, Greene's two young daughters, Haley and Allison, watched on. The 29 year-old’s parents and wife Cristie comforted the children as their father’s former company commander from Ft. Hood eulogized their dad.
"His passion for his family drove him to be the best he could be at anything and everything,” Capt. James Pence said. "He was a soldier you could rely on when difficult tasks were at hand."
Greene enlisted in the Army in May 2008. According to his family, when he was a young boy, his dream was to join the military. Before his death, the army awarded him the national defense, global war on terrorism, and army service medals.
“What really made Fred special were the unique traits that rounded out his character,” Pence said. “He was compassionate, humble, loyal, merciful, selfless, optimistic and sincere. The Army did not build these traits; Fred’s values can be attributed to his upbringing from his loving family.”
As part of Greene’s burial, the soldier received full military honors. A bagpiper played Amazing Grace, a bugler played taps, and solders from Ft. Campbell, Kentucky’s 101st Airborne Division fired their guns as a salute.
Before leaving the cemetery, Greene’s fellow soldiers folded the American flag that was draped over his casket and gave it to Greene’s wife. They then gave four additional flags to Greene’s mom, dad, and two daughters.
"Fred, thank you for touching our lives,” Pence said. “We will never forget you...I don't know why this tragic event has happened. I do know that the world and the 510th Clearance Company, has lost a true hero."
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