Syria attack victims were Iowa National Guardsmen, state officials say

They came from small Iowa cities but shared the same uniform and sense of duty. Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, were killed during a mission in Syria while meeting local leaders as part of operations against ISIS. An American civilian also died, and three others were wounded, turning a routine engagement into tragedy.

Back in Iowa, flags were lowered as leaders and families grappled with the loss. With nearly 1,800 Iowa National Guard members deployed to the region, the grief has spread far beyond two towns, leaving families statewide anxiously waiting and hoping their loved ones return safely.