The Iowa National Guard has released the names of the two soldiers who were killed in an apparent ISIS attack in Syria.
The soldiers were identified in a news release on Monday, Dec. 15 as Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, and Sgt. Edgar Torrestovar, 25, of Grimes. Both were members of the 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment.
“Today, we honor the memory and sacrifice of Sgt. Howard and Sgt. Torrestovar by sharing their names with a grateful state and nation,” Maj. Gen. Stephen Osborn, adjutant general of the Iowa National Guard, said in the news release. “They were dedicated professionals and cherished members of our Guard family who represented the best of Iowa. Our focus now is providing unwavering support to their families through this unimaginable time and ensuring the legacy of these two heroes is never forgotten.”
Osborn said a total of five soldiers were attacked by a “lone ISIS gunman” on Saturday, Dec. 13 in Palmyra, Syria. One non-Iowan U.S. civilian interpreter also was killed in the ambush; the three other Iowa soldiers were injured.
All the soldiers involved are assigned to the 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment, which is part of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division. The brigade began deploying to the Middle East in late May 2025 for Operation Inherent Resolve to advise and assist forces tasked with “defeat[ing] ISIS.”
“Sgt. Howard and Sgt. Torrestovar served our state and nation with honor, and in doing so, gave the ultimate sacrifice. We are grateful for their service and deeply mourn their loss,” Gov. Kim Reynolds said in a news release Monday ordering flags flown at half staff in their honor. “Kevin and I offer our prayers and condolences to their families and ask that Iowans stand united in support of them during this difficult time.”
Slain Iowa soldier was the son of Meskwaki Nation police chief
Meskwaki Nation Police Chief Jeffrey Bunn, in a Facebook post, confirmed his son, Howard, 29, was one of the two Iowa soldiers killed in Syria on Saturday.
“Our son Nate was one of the soldiers that paid the ultimate sacrifice for all of us, to keep us all safer,” Bunn said in his post. “He loved what he was doing and would be the first in and last out, no one left behind. Please pray for our soldiers all around this cruel world. We will see you again son, until then, we have it from here.”
The Meskwaki Nation Police Department serves the Meskwaki community in Tama.
The Marshalltown Times-Republican reported that Howard was a 2014 graduate of Marshalltown High School. The newspaper also said Howard was deployed to Kosovo with the Guard in 2020. He most recently worked as a laser engraving specialist for Emerson-Fisher Controls in Marshalltown, according to the Times-Republican.
Tama Co. sheriff shares message of support for fallen National Guardsman
Tama County Sheriff Casey Schmidt shared a statement on Facebook Sunday afternoon, offering condolences and condemning the alleged ISIS attack.
“This hits close to home. It reminds us that service is personal and that the cost is real. These losses are not headlines. They are families, coworkers, and communities left carrying the weight,” Schmidt said in his post.
“ISIS is evil. That is not political. That is reality,” he continued. “Our service members are still standing in harm’s way because that evil still exists. Acknowledging that matters, and so does remembering why they serve.”
Schmidt shared his gratitude for the men and women who serve in the National Guard, saying the country does not “do enough for them. They accept risks most people never have to think about.”
“What this does show is how Iowa handles loss. People do not turn away,” the sheriff said. “They show up, they check in, and they help where they can. It is quiet and steady, and it is real.”
Iowa soldiers providing support for ‘counter-ISIS and counterterrorism’ work
Iowa has approximately 1,800 soldiers deployed in the Middle East, and of those, 200-250 National Guard members are in Syria. The 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, was on a mission in support of ongoing counter-ISIS and counter-terrorism efforts in the region.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he plans “very serious retaliation” in a post on Truth Social, noting Saturday’s incident was an “ISIS attack against the U.S., and Syria, in a very dangerous part of Syria, that is not fully controlled by them.”
“The President of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, is extremely angry and disturbed by this attack,” Trump said in his post.
Howard and Torres are the first Iowa Army National Guard members to die in combat since Terryl L. Pasker was killed in Afghanistan in July 2011.
“Our soldiers were doing their job, serving with courage, dedication and professionalism,” Osborn said.
Injured soldiers will not be identified
The Guard will not release the names of the injured soldiers, according to the U.S. Department of War’s policy on “medical privacy.”
Osborn said in the release Monday two of the soldiers required medical evacuation and are in stable condition. The third soldier was treated locally and is in good condition.
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