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.”
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.
Their flag-draped caskets were saluted by Ernst, Nunn and Guard leaders before their families had a moment alone with them.
Iowa state and Des Moines police officers then escorted processions to Marshalltown, where Howard’s visitation and funeral will be held on Saturday, and south Des Moines, where Torres-Tovar’s visitation will be held Sunday, ahead of his funeral and burial on Monday.
Three other Guard members were also injured in the attack, two of whom are receiving treatment in the United States, while the other was treated in Syria.
