Tenn. soldier who died at Fort Hood receives hero's welcome

 By Preston Ayres, WCYB

It was a hometown hero's welcome for an East Tennessee soldier who was gunned down in the Fort Hood massacre.

The town of Mountain City paused Sunday morning for the return of Army Specialist Frederick Greene's body. A crowd gathered at the Tri-Cities Airport, waiting for the return of Greene's body.

 The 29-year-old was gunned down by a fellow soldier during the shooting at Fort Hood, Texas just more than a week ago.

Every soldier's death is difficult to accept, but his brothers in uniform say the 13 lost at Fort Hood are harder than most.

"They have a certain affect on all of us," said Sgt. Joshua Butler with the Armor Guard. "It's hard on the nation like it's hard on us. It's typically a killed in action from Iraq or Afghanistan, but this one is on our own soil. This one is domesticated, so it's getting us all."

Ten days after Greene lost his life, the chartered flight breaks through the Smoky Mountain fog. As the wheels touch the ground, Greene is almost home. Local veterans stand silent as his flag-draped casket is slowly lowered onto East Tennessee soil.

"Our primary mission is to render the honor that the soldier has really earned," said Butler.

A full police escort will lead Greene's final trip home. The family requested the route be changed from major highways to the back roads.

"They decided instead of taking the motorcade from the airport to the funeral home in Mountain City to go through the area he grew up," said Army Public Affairs spokeswoman Cathy Gramling.

A Greene family spokesperson said they are grateful for the outpouring of support from across the nation.

Funeral services for Greene are planned for Tuesday. Public visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. at Hux-Lipford-Teague Funeral Home in Mountain City.