The body of Staff sgt. William Nathaniel Howard is returned to Iowa on Dec. 24, 2025, at the 132d Wing Airbase in Des Moines, Iowa.

On behalf of this community, all Iowans and our Nation, I extend sincere condolences to the families of Staff Sgt. William “Nate” Howard and Staff Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar on their unimaginable loss of life only one short month ago.

On December 13 while Americans watched football games, participated in Wreaths Across America events, prepared for the holiday season, and otherwise enjoyed our lives, 2,000 Soldiers of the Iowa Army National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserve from Iowa performed their duties alongside their sister branches and coalition partners in support of Operation Inherent Resolve across the Middle East.

We may never know the details of what took place, but what we do know is that an ISIS insurgent attacked and killed two Soldiers and wounded three others. The 1st Squadron 113th Cavalry, and the entire 2nd Brigade 34th Infantry Division team will never forget the events of that day. The family and loved ones of these soldiers will forever use December 13 as a threshold-a moment dividing “life before” and “life after.’

The response from our State and Nation has been humbling and inspiring — from Governor Kim Reynolds to our Federal delegation in Washington, DC, to our elected and appointed officials at the state, county and municipal levels, teachers, students, friends, colleagues, and fellow Veterans – all standing side by side with these Gold Star Families as we extend condolence, respect, and appreciation from a grateful nation.

I was honored to be among the hundreds of Iowans to attend visitations and services for both Staff Sgt. Nate Howard and Staff Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar. Maj. Gen. Steve Osborn and the entire Iowa National Guard family represented with a high degree of character and professionalism that Iowans have come to expect.

The Iowa National Guard Honor Guard, which was represented throughout the month, embodied precision, professionalism, and humility in our nation’s gratitude. These men and women displayed their incredible dedication to duty by these men and women.We are grateful to the Patriot Guard Riders, the Marshalltown Combined Honor Guard, Veterans representing all service organizations, the vast law enforcement and emergency services presence during all events associated with the dignified transfers, escort, funerals, and the rendering of honors to our fallen.

We extend our gratitude to the Hamilton Funeral Home in Des Moines and the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown for the attention to detail and incredible efforts extended to make these services special and unique in order to properly honor these fallen soldiers and their families. As Maj. Gen. Osborn presented the carefully folded flag of our nation to the surviving family members “on behalf of a grateful Nation as a symbol of our appreciation for their loved one’s honorable and faithful service” each of us reflected on that service and sacrifice. May each of us live a life worthy of their sacrifice.

May we also hold in high esteem those who separate themselves from this 330 million person formation we know as the United States of America by serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Soldiers, marines, sailors, airmen, and guardians will continue to represent our nation in areas where they have been called to serve.

Soldiers involved in Operation Inherent Resolve are a coalition whose mission is to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria. I am grateful for those willing to serve and sacrifice. While we mourn these losses, we also celebrate the lives of these men, and extend gratitude that Americans, such as these courageous soldiers, are willing to serve.

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Todd Jacobus is the commandant of the

Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs.