CPL Charles J. "Chaz" Wren, age 25, of Hondo died while on active duty Saturday, Apr. 16, 2011, in Nimroz Province, Afghanistan. He was one of three 10th Mountain Division soldiers killed by an improvised explosive device. He was born Oct. 22, 1985, in Austin, the son of Jeffrey Richard and Sherrie Patricia (Tondre) Wren. Known to his friends as Chaz, he was a 2004 graduate of Hondo High School. He joined the Army in February 2008, enlisting in Beeville after working for the Texas prison system. He completed his basic training at Fort Benning, GA, and was assigned to Fort Drum, NY, in June of 2008. He was currently serving as an 11B, Infantry Rifleman with the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He had recently been promoted to Corporal and had earned the Bronze Star with Valor Device, the Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts, the Army Commendation Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Expert Rifle Marksman Badge. His training included completion of the Combat Life Savers and Combatives Level 1 courses. Chaz is preceded in death by his parents and his grandparents, Charles C. and Nettie Virginia "Ginger" Fusselman Tondre and Billy Richard and Mary Lillian (Whitt) Wren. He is survived by his wife, the love of his life, Klaryssa Piña Wren of Hondo; brothers, William J. "Will" Wren and wife Amanda of Hondo and Jesse R. "Jess" Wren of Bedford; nephews, Logan Jeffrey and Dane William Wren; niece, Aliyah Piña; step-grandmother, Georgia Wren of Alvin; aunts, Robyn (Jake) Arrott of Arlington, Laurie (Gene) Morris of Devine, Linda Mercer of Seguin, Diane (Fred) Graff of Hondo, Judy (Nonnie) Hardy of New Braunfels; uncle, Chuck (Laurie) Tondre of Hondo; and numerous cousins. Funeral service was held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Apr. 27, at First Baptist Church, Hondo. Interment with full military honors was at Hondo Cemetery, Woodmen of the World Section.