By Steve Huffman
Salisbury Post
ROCKWELL ó Had Trenton Freeman done nothing, he’d have spent Christmas at home with his parents, the occasion marking the first time he’d been home in almost a year.
But instead, Trenton, an Army 1st lieutenant, traded leaves with a fellow soldier, doing so so that his comrade could return to the United States and see his son graduate from Air Force basic training.
Trenton’s father, David Freeman, said he wasn’t surprised when he learned what his son had done.
“His men are always his first concern,” David said. “He cares an awful lot about them.”
Trenton, 23, was graduated from East Rowan High School in 2002 and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., in 2006.
He’s been in the Army since and has been stationed in Iraq since last February. Trenton is a platoon leader involved in route clearance in Iraq’s Karada Peninsula.
It’s a dangerous job, and Trenton’s father said he always reminds his son of one thing when they speak.
“I just tell him to be careful,” David said.
He said his son is responsible for the safety of about 30 soldiers in his platoon. David said Trenton takes his job infinitely seriously.
David said his son didn’t give up his leave when he swapped with his comrade. All he did, David said, was postpone his coming home until February.
He said Trenton is scheduled to leave Iraq on Feb. 10 and should arrive in Rowan County on Valentine’s Day.
David and his wife, Rose, live in Rockwell. Trenton’s only sibling is his sister, Kori.
Trenton’s grandmother, Lucille Patterson, another resident of the Rockwell community, was so proud of her grandson volunteering to give up his Christmas leave that she contacted the Post about the matter.
“That’s him, he’s kind of tender-hearted,” Patterson said of her grandson. “It just made me more proud of him.”
Contact Steve Huffman at 704-797-4222 or shuffman@salisburypost.com.