Army Spc. Charles J. Wren

Remember Our Heroes

Army Spc. Charles J. Wren, 25, of Beeville, Texas

Spc Wren was assigned to 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.; died of wounds suffered April 16, 2011 in Nimroz province, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Also killed were Spc. Paul J. Atim and Pfc. Joel A. Ramirez.

Wren previously deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from December 2008 to December 2009.

Wren's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. He also completed the Combat Life Savers and the Combatives Level 1 courses.

Wren's mother, who worked for a San Antonio advertising company, died at 39. His father made china products and parts for toilets before dying at 40 or 41, said Chaz Wren's first cousin, Tina Christiansen, 42, of Hondo.

A grandmother, Ginger Tondre, raised Wren and his brothers Will Wren of Hondo and Jeff Wren of Bedford, by herself after her husband, Charles, died.

Army Spc. Charles J. Wren was killed in action on 4/16/11.