Frederick Greene (AP Photo)
Greene, 29, of Mountain City, Tenn., went by "Freddie" and was active at Baker's Gap Baptist Church while he was growing up, said Glenn Arney, the church's former superintendent and a former co-worker of Greene's.
"I went to church with him, knew him all of his life. He was one of the finest boys you ever saw," Arney said.
Arney worked with Greene for several years at A.C. Lumber and Truss in Mountain City. The company designs and builds trusses, which are structures that support the roofs and floors of houses and other buildings.
"He was a hard worker. He was a computer whiz. He could design a truss. He could do about anything," Arney said.
His family released a statement Sunday calling him a loving son, husband and father, who often acted as the family's protector.
"Even before joining the Army, he exemplified the Army values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage," the family said.