Edward Rueben Wren was a resident of Talladega, Alabama prior to entering a two year agricultural program at the Alabama Polytechnic Institute (presently Auburn University) in September of 1914. He remained at Auburn until the Spring of 1917 before returning to Talladega. In August of 1917, Wren enlisted in Company B of the 167th Alabama Infantry, which later became part of the 42nd Division (also known as the Rainbow Division). His division arrived in France in November of 1917 and was at the front line by March of 1918. By the summer of 1918, Wren had climbed the ranks to First Sergeant. During the Second Battle of the Marne in July of 1918, Sergeant Wren "exposed himself to violent (artillery) shelling to dress the wounds of his comrades" as well as supervise their evacuation. In September of 1918, he was promoted to Second Lieutenant. He again performed valorously when his company, near Bordeaux, was sent "foreward under intense enemy machine gun fire and directed the patrol to safety." Following the war, he returned to Talladega where he devoted a great amount of time and effort to the American Legion. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Order of the Crown (Belgium) and the silver star with oak leaf cluster (posthumously) for his bravery during the First World War.