Master Sergeant Gregory R. Trent was born on July 23, 1974, and was a native of Norton, Massachusetts. He enlisted in the Army as an artilleryman in August 1998. After initial training he was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. He was next assigned to Italy, where he served as a howitzer section chief and deployed to both Afghanistan and Iraq.
In 2006 Greg volunteered for Special Forces Assessment and Selection. He completed the Special Forces Qualification Course in August 2007 and reported to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, as a Special Forces communications sergeant. He deployed to Afghanistan with the battalion in 2009. He was then assigned to Company B, 4th Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), deploying with the battalion in April 2010 and returning to Afghanistan in January 2012. By then he had completed the Special Forces Intelligence Sergeant Course and was serving as a Special Forces intelligence sergeant. His military education also includes the Basic Airborne Course, the Army Combatives Course, the Warrior, Advanced and Senior Leader Courses, the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, Military Free Fall School and Jumpmaster School.
On July 31, 2012, during his fifth deployment in support of overseas contingency operations, Greg was wounded by small-arms fire when his unit came under attack in Shindand District, Herat Province, Afghanistan. He was evacuated to the military hospital at Bethesda, Maryland, where he died of his wounds on August 8, 2012. He was 38 years old.
Greg’s decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, two Army Commendation Medals, three Army Achievement Medals, four Good Conduct Medals, three Afghanistan Campaign Medals, two Iraq Campaign Medals, the NATO Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Parachutist Badge, the Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge and the Special Forces Tab.
Norton mourned the loss of a native son. Flags in town flew at half-staff, and in May 2013 the community dedicated the MSG Trent Memorial Park in his honor, a ceremony attended by his parents and brother. Greg is survived by his wife, his daughter, his parents and his brother.
Greg possessed relentless spirit and tactical calm, always protecting his team under enemy engagement.
3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Sources
- WBUR / Associated Press: Mass. soldier dies after attack in Afghanistan (Aug. 12, 2012)
- Green Beret Foundation: Gregory R. Trent
- Taunton Daily Gazette: Norton soldier killed in action in Afghanistan
- Taunton Daily Gazette: MSG Trent Memorial Park dedicated to Norton soldier (May 31, 2013)
- Family-provided records on file with MVF: Gregory Trent (USASOC release text)
