President Donald Trump is attending a Dignified Transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware Wednesday to received the bodies of two Iowa National Guardsmen who were killed in Syria over the weekend.
Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, and Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25 were ambushed and killed by an ISIS gunman in Palmyra, Syria on Saturday. A civilian interpreter was also killed.
Republican Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst of Iowa are also expected to attend the ceremony.
On Monday, Gen Steven Nordhaus, Chief of the National Guard Bureau, shared photos of the two slain service members and wrote:
Our entire National Guard family mourns the loss of Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, Iowa, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, Iowa-the Iowa Army National Guard Soldiers who were ambushed and killed in Syria. Their mission was in support of ongoing counter-ISIS / counter-terrorism operations in the region.
Our hearts are with their families, loved ones and the Iowa National Guard during this time of profound sorrow. We honor their courage and sacrifice, and we will never forget them or their service.
We are also thinking of and praying for the families of the civilian interpreter who was killed, and the three other Guardsmen who were wounded. May God place his healing hand upon them.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth added:
Please join me in prayer today for the souls of our brave Army Soldiers Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres Tovar and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, who were killed by Islamic terrorists in Syria this past weekend.
Our hearts go out to their families, and we lift them up in prayer for strength and comfort during this time of grief.
The United States of America will avenge these fallen Americans with overwhelming force. Their memory will live on through their families, their fellow warriors still serving our country, and in my unwavering commitment to our warfighters around the globe.
Please join me in prayer today for the souls of our brave Army Soldiers Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres Tovar and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, who were killed by Islamic terrorists in Syria this past weekend.
Our hearts go out to their families, and we lift them up in prayer for… https://t.co/GgZC96dfBo
— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) December 15, 2025
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Wednesday morning, “Today, President Trump is traveling to Dover Air Force Base to pay his respects at the dignified transfer for the two Iowa National Guard Members. The President loves our military heroes, and he is honored to stand with these soldiers’ families today.”
Today, President Trump is traveling to Dover Air Force Base to pay his respects at the dignified transfer for the two Iowa National Guard Members.
The President loves our military heroes, and he is honored to stand with these soldiers’ families today.
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) December 17, 2025
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy also joined Trump on the trip to Dover for the ceremony.
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and President Trump depart the White House for a dignified transfer ceremony in Delaware for the two Iowa National Guardsmen killed in Syria. pic.twitter.com/9fyBiOgeYa
— CSPAN (@cspan) December 17, 2025
President Trump is en route to Dover Air Force Base to honor the fallen 🙏🏼🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/5knm6hJANv
— Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) December 17, 2025
WATCH LIVE COVERAGE BELOW of the sobering ceremony. Live-streaming coverage is expected to start momentarily.
Sen. Grassley wrote on Saturday, “Barbara & I are heartbroken by the loss of 2 brave Iowans on a counter-terrorism mission in Syria These soldiers & the civilian interpreter who was w them paid the ultimate sacrifice& we are forever indebted to them for their service to our country. My prayers are w their families, loved ones, fellow soldiers & Iowans as we mourn this terrible tragedy.”
My prayers are w their families, loved ones, fellow soldiers & Iowans as we mourn this terrible tragedy
— Chuck Grassley (@ChuckGrassley) December 14, 2025
Sergeant Edgar Torres-Tovar represented the best of Iowa and America.
He was the first in his family to join the military and signed up to serve in the Iowa National Guard before his high school graduation.
He served in support of Operation Inherent Resolve was tragically… pic.twitter.com/hKB4DK3KHi
— Joni Ernst (@SenJoniErnst) December 16, 2025
Sergeant Nate Howard is an America hero.
He was from Marshalltown and served 11 years in the Iowa Army National Guard, where his family said he “loved what he was doing.”
He was tragically killed by an ISIS terrorist in Palmyra, Syria on December 13th while serving with 2nd… pic.twitter.com/gvlkdbyImw
— Joni Ernst (@SenJoniErnst) December 16, 2025
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