The two soldiers were the first American casualties in Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad. (Photo: Iowa National Guard) The Iowa National Guard on Monday said two of its personnel were killed by a gunman in Palmyra, Syria, on Saturday. In a statement posted on social media, the Iowa National Guard identified the deceased soldiers as Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, Iowa, and Sgt. Edgar Brian Torrestovar, 25, of Grimes, Iowa. Both were members of the 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment.
What Iowa National Guard said
“Today, we honor the memory and sacrifice of Sgt. Howard and Sgt. Torrestovar by sharing their names with a grateful state and nation,” said Maj. Gen. Stephen Osborn, adjutant general of the Iowa National Guard.
“They were dedicated professionals and cherished members of our Guard family who represented the best of lowa. 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.”
Three other Iowa National Guard Soldiers were wounded in the attack. Two of the Soldiers required medical evacuation for further treatment and are in stable condition, it said.
Meskwaki Nation Police Chief’s son killed
One of the deceased, Sergeant Howard, is the stepson of Jeffrey Bunn, the Chief of the Meskwaki Nation Police Department in Tama, Iowa.
“Our son Nate was one of the soldiers that paid the ultimate sacrifice for all of us, to keep us all safer,” Bunn wrote in a Facebook post shared by the Meskwaki Nation Police Department.
Story continues below this ad
“Nate was a loving husband to his wife Arianna Howard, a great son, an amazing man of faith and is with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in Heaven. Nate was also a big brother to Staff Sgt James Roelsgard, also deployed through the Iowa National Guard. His little brother will be escorting Nate home,” he wrote.
The gunman also killed an American civilian contractor who was working as an interpreter and has not been named by officials yet.
Iowa National Guard in Middle East
About 1,800 Iowa Army National Guard troops were deployed to the Middle East in May as part of a continuing military mission to work with local forces to defeat the Islamic State.
The two soldiers were the first American casualties in Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad, the country’s longtime dictator, a year ago. The last Iowa National Guard member to be killed overseas was Sgt. First Class Terryl Pasker, who died in Afghanistan in July 2011.
Story continues below this ad
The gunman who fired on the American soldiers was killed by Syrian security forces, officials said. President Trump wrote on social media on Saturday that the United States would retaliate against the Islamic State for the attack.
