A 31-year-old Schofield Barracks soldier was killed Saturday in Afghanistan when his unit was attacked by insurgents using homemade bombs, the Department of Defense said today.

The Pentagon reported that Staff Sgt. Mark C. Wells, of San Jose, Calif., died in Helmand province of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 45th Sustainment Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command. 

Wells joined the Army shortly after graduating from Leigh High School. He started his tour in Afghanistan in August, after serving 14 months in Iraq.

Burl Wells told the San Jose Mercury News that his son was fearless and always reminded the family that he loved being a member of the bomb squad. He also used to play the bag pipes at the funerals of other soldiers.

Mark Wells is survived by his pregnant wife, Danielle, and their 2-year-old son, Finnegan.