Nunn Honors Fallen Iowa Hero at State of the Union
Combat veteran Zach Nunn hosted Hugo Torres and Isabel Tovar, the parents of Staff Sgt. Edgar Torres-Tovar as his guests for last night’s State of the Union.
Staff Sgt. Edgar Torres-Tovar was among two Iowa National Guard soldiers who were killed in action on December 13, 2025 during an attack in Syria while serving as part of U.S. counter-ISIS operations.
Rep. Nunn honored Staff Sgt. Torres-Tovar’s service and sacrifice, and shared America’s gratitude for his ultimate sacrifice while protecting American values.
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Fallen Iowa National Guard soldiers’ families go to State of the Union
Marissa Payne
Des Moines Register
February 25, 2026
Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar dreamt of traveling with his family to Washington, D.C., when he returned from his deployment to Syria.
More than two months after he was killed in action there in December, the Iowa National Guard staff sergeant’s parents, Hugo Torres and Isabel Tovar, carried out their late son’s dream of visiting the nation’s capital as U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn’s State of the Union guests.
“Because of his passing, that also brought us to Washington, D.C.,” Tovar said through remarks translated by Torres in a phone call the evening of Feb. 24 before President Donald Trump’s address.
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Torres-Tovar was deployed to Kosovo and Kuwait before being deployed to Syria, where he was part of a U.S.-led coalition fighting ISIS. He and Howard were members of the 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division.
Nunn, a colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, said he and Torres-Tovar’s parents took a reflective walk of the U.S. Capitol building and visited with Howard’s family during their trip Tuesday.
“Every step of the way, this couple has been just heartwarming parents caring for everyone else around them while taking on the biggest burden that I think any parent should have to face,” Nunn said.
He said Torres-Tovar was “part of this brave group of young men and women whose sacrifice affords all of us a level of safety at home.”
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