Iowa House adopts resolution honoring two fallen National Guard staff sergeants

The Iowa House of Representatives adopted House Resolution 101 during its session, honoring Staff Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard and Staff Sergeant Edgar Brian Torres Tovar, who were killed in an attack on Dec. 13, 2025, in Palmyra, Syria.

Representative Kaufman, who introduced the resolution, said the measure was sponsored by all 100 members of the House and that the Senate would take up an identical resolution. The resolution details that roughly 1,800 Iowa Army National Guard soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division were deployed in May 2025, with up to 250 of those soldiers operating in Syria.

The text read by the House recounts the service histories of both staff sergeants: Howard’s training at Fort Benning and graduation from Marshalltown High School and Torres Tovar’s enlistment after graduating from Dowling Catholic High School and prior deployments. The resolution directs that a copy be sent to the families of the fallen soldiers and recognizes three additional Iowa National Guard members who were wounded in the same attack.

Representative Meyer moved the resolution for adoption. The presiding officer called for the ayes and declared, “The ayes do have it,” and the resolution was adopted by voice vote.

"This resolution is sponsored by all 100 members of this body," Representative Kaufman said during the introduction. A copy of the resolution will be sent to the families of Staff Sergeants Howard and Torres Tovar, per the House action.

The House took no additional formal roll-call on the resolution; the measure passed by voice vote. The body then proceeded to member announcements and other business.