Remains of Two Iowa Guardsmen Killed in Syria To Return Home Dec. 24

The military has announced the remains of two Iowa National Guard soldiers killed in Syria earlier this month will be returned to Iowa on Tuesday, December 24.

A private, dignified transfer ceremony will be held at the Iowa Air National Guard base at the Des Moines International Airport for the families of 29-year-old Nate Howard of Marshalltown and 25-year-old Edgar Torres-Tovar of Des Moines. The ceremony will be closed to the public.

Howard and Torres-Tovar were killed on December 13 while deployed in Syria. Both soldiers have been posthumously promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant.

Earlier this month, President Trump, Governor Kim Reynolds, Iowa National Guard leadership, and other officials attended a dignified transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.

Obituaries for both soldiers have been posted online. Funeral service arrangements have not yet been announced.