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Iowa Guardsmen Killed in Syria Return Home for Private Transfer in Des Moines Today

Public memorials begin Saturday in Marshalltown, with additional services to follow in the Des Moines area.

The remains of Staff Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, Iowa, one of two Iowa National Guard members killed in an attack in the Syrian desert, is moved during a dignified transfer at the Des Moines International Airport in Des Moines, Iowa, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
The remains of Staff Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, and Staff Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, the two Iowa National Guard members killed in an attack in the Syrian desert, are moved during a dignified transfer at the Des Moines International Airport in Des Moines, Iowa, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
An Iowa National Guard member salutes as the remains of Staff Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, and Staff Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, the two Iowa National Guard members killed in an attack in the Syrian desert, are moved during a dignified transfer at the Des Moines International Airport in Des Moines, Iowa, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, from left, Major General Stephen E. Osborn, Adjutant General of the Iowa National Guard, Command Sgt. Maj. Matthew Strasser, Command Senior Enlisted Leader, U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, R-Iowa, salute as the remains of Staff Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, and Staff Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, the two Iowa National Guard members killed in an attack in the Syrian desert, are moved during a dignified transfer at the Des Moines International Airport in Des Moines, Iowa, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Overview

  • The remains of Staff Sgts. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar and William 'Nate' Howard are scheduled to arrive at Des Moines International Airport at 1 p.m. for an honorable transfer at the 132d Wing.
  • The Iowa National Guard Honor Guard will conduct the ceremony, which is private and not open to the public, and fellow Guardsmen are escorting the soldiers throughout their return.
  • Howard’s services will be held Saturday, Dec. 27, at the Marshalltown High School Roundhouse, with visitation from 9–10:30 a.m. and a funeral at 10:30 a.m., followed by full military honors.
  • Hamilton’s Southtown Funeral Home will handle Torres-Tovar’s visitation on Sunday and his funeral and burial on Monday, with exact times and locations to be released Wednesday.
  • The soldiers were killed in a Dec. 13 ISIS attack in Syria that also claimed the life of an American civilian interpreter and injured three Iowa soldiers, and both were posthumously promoted to staff sergeant.