Dec. 25 (UPI) -- The remains of two Iowa National Guard soldiers killed in an ambush in Syria arrived at the Iowa National Guard base in Des Moines, with funeral services for both scheduled for this weekend.
The bodies of Staff Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard and Staff Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar were carried off a KC-135 on Wednesday afternoon at the base as Gov. Kim Reynolds, Sen. Joni Ernst, U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, leaders from the Guard and their families looked on, Iowa Public Radio and KCCI Des Moines reported.
"Today's honorable transfer of Sgt. Howard and Sgt. Torres-Tovar marks their return to Iowa," Reynolds said in a post on X. "They can now be laid to rest after making the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation."
Today's honorable transfer of Sgt. Howard and Sgt. Torres-Tovar marks their return to Iowa. They can now be laid to rest after making the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation. Please join me in continuing to pray for their families and honor the service and legacy of these... pic.twitter.com/zlXpziDdYI— Gov. Kim Reynolds (@IAGovernor) December 24, 2025
Howard and Torres-Tovar, who were promoted to the rank of staff sergeant posthumously, and a civilian U.S. interpreter were killed in an attack in Palmyra, Syria, on Dec. 13, in a lone gunman attack.
