US Army sergeant from Norton fatally wounded in Afghanistan

By Zachary T. Sampson, Globe Correspondent

A US Army Special Forces sergeant from Norton died in Bethesda, Md., Wednesday from wounds he suffered in Afghanistan.

Master Sergeant Gregory R. Trent, 38, was injured on July 31 when enemy forces attacked his unit with small-arms fire, according to the US Department of Defense. The department said Trent was in the area of Shindand, Afghanistan with Company B, Fourth Battalion, Third Special Forces Group (Airborne). The company is based out of Fort Bragg, N.C.

Trent had deployed four times in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and once for Operation Iraqi Freedom, according to a statement from the US Army Special Forces Command. He leaves a wife, daughter, parents, and brother, according to the statement.

His family could not be reached for comment Saturday night.

Trent enlisted in the US Army as an artilleryman in August of 1998, according to the Special Forces Command. He initially served as a howitzer section chief in Italy.

He later deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq, and in 2006, Trent volunteered for the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course. He completed a qualification course in August 2009.

The Norton man most recently deployed to Afghanistan in January 2012. He was a Special Forces Intelligence Sergeant.

Trent received many accolades during his military career, according to the Special Forces Command, including the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and a Defense Meritorious Service Medal.