Iowa National Guard Soldiers Remembered After Syria Tragedy
In a somber announcement Monday, the U.S. Army identified two Iowa National Guard soldiers who lost their lives while serving in Palmyra, Syria. Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres Tovar, a 25-year-old from Des Moines, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, from Marshalltown, were killed on Saturday during their deployment in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. The Army has not released details about the circumstances surrounding their deaths, noting only that the incident remains under investigation. These young men represent the ongoing sacrifices made by National Guard members who balance civilian lives in their home communities with their commitment to serve the nation abroad.
The deaths of Sergeants Tovar and Howard highlight the continued American military presence in Syria, where U.S. forces have been deployed as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the multinational campaign against ISIS that began in 2014. Despite reduced attention in American media, approximately 900 U.S. troops remain stationed in Syria, working alongside allied forces to prevent the resurgence of ISIS and maintain regional stability. These Iowa soldiers were among those serving in this challenging environment, far from their Midwestern homes, committed to a mission that has now extended nearly a decade.
Behind the uniforms and formal military identifications are the personal stories of two young men whose lives were deeply rooted in Iowa communities. Sgt. Torres Tovar, at just 25, had already committed significant years of his life to military service, balancing his National Guard duties with civilian life in Des Moines. Similarly, Sgt. Howard had established himself in Marshalltown, a community of about 27,000 people in central Iowa, where National Guard service is viewed as both an honor and a responsibility. Their deaths leave profound voids in these communities, where flags will be lowered and memories shared of young men who represented the best of their state’s values of duty and service.
The Iowa National Guard has a proud tradition dating back to the Civil War, with units that have been deployed to numerous conflicts around the world. In recent decades, Iowa Guard members have served multiple tours in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other global hotspots, often leaving behind families, careers, and education to answer the nation’s call. The loss of Sergeants Tovar and Howard adds to a painful history of sacrifice for the Iowa Guard, which has seen other members make the ultimate sacrifice during the War on Terror. Their deaths remind us that National Guard members face the same dangers as active-duty soldiers when deployed to combat zones, despite their part-time military status.
As the investigation into the incident continues, families, friends, and fellow service members are left to grapple with the immediate reality of loss. In the coming days, more details about these soldiers’ lives and service will likely emerge—stories of their training at Camp Dodge in Johnston, Iowa, their civilian careers and educational aspirations, the families who supported their military service, and the friends who now mourn their absence. Communities across Iowa will likely organize memorials and tributes, continuing a tradition of honoring fallen service members that runs deep in America’s heartland, where military service remains a respected calling despite the risks it entails.
The deaths of Sergeants Torres Tovar and Howard provide a sobering reminder of the ongoing human cost of America’s military engagements overseas, even those that have faded from headlines. As these soldiers’ remains are returned to American soil and eventually to their home state of Iowa, the nation will briefly turn its attention to their sacrifice—a moment to recognize that behind each military casualty announcement are individual lives of promise and potential, families forever changed, and communities diminished by loss. Their service in a distant desert land, far from the familiar landscapes of Iowa, represents the global reach of America’s military commitments and the personal courage of those who volunteer to fulfill them, regardless of the danger.
