With the June 15 death of an Iowa pilot in a B-52 bomber crash, there have now been six U.S. military members from Iowa who have died in the line of duty since December 2025.
A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress “crashed and burst into flames” shortly after takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base in Edwards, California, military officials said June 15. Eight died in the crash.
Iowa native Maj. Brad Hovey, a pilot with the 419th Flight Test Squadron, was one of the victims of the crash.
Two Iowa National Guardsmen were killed in an ISIS attack in December, and three Iowans were killed in an Iranian attack in Kuwait in March.
Here’s what to know about the U.S. military members from Iowa who have died since December 2025.
Maj. Brad Hovey, Air Force
Maj. Brad Hovey, 35, a pilot with the 419th Flight Test Squadron, was identified as one of the victims of the B-52 Stratofortress crash at Edwards Air Force Base. A news release from Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ Office confirmed Hovey was an Iowa native.
“Again, we are reminded of the incredible sacrifice demanded of every American who chooses to serve our country,” Reynolds said in a statement Wednesday. “As we honor Maj. Hovey’s life and service, let us never forget the cost of our freedom.”
Hovey graduated from Iowa State University with a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering. A Facebook post from the Adel-De Soto-Minburn Alumni Association identified Hovey as a 2009 graduate of the school district.
“Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of Major Brad Hovey, ADM class of 2009, who tragically lost his life in the crash of a B-52 Bomber the other day at Edwards Air Force Base,” the post says.
Maj. Jeffrey O’Brien, Army Reserve
Maj. Jeffrey O’Brien, 45, of Waukee and a Signal Corps officer with the U.S. Army Reserve, died in a March 1 attack by Iran on a facility in Kuwait being used by the Des Moines-based 103rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command. He was one of two Iowa residents to die in the attack alongside three others.
O’Brien had been awarded the Army Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Superior Unit Award, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” Device, according to a news release from the Pentagon in March.
He was a native of Coggon in Linn County and a graduate of North Linn High School and Iowa State University.
“Jeff was a true hero in every sense of the word,” his wife, Roxane, said in a statement provided to KCCI.
Sgt. Declan Coady, Army Reserve
Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines and a Drake University sophomore and Army reservist, also died in the March 1 attack by Iran on a facility in Kuwait.
Coady, an Eagle Scout and 2023 graduate of Valley High School, was decorated with the Army Service Ribbon, National Defense Service Ribbon and the Overseas Service Ribbon, according to an Army statement. The Pentagon’s release noted Coady was posthumously promoted to sergeant from specialist.
“He was just the nicest. He was quite shy and a man of few words, but he was amazing,” his sister told the Register.
Chief Warrant Officer Robert Marzan, Army Reserve
Chief Warrant Officer Robert Marzan, 54, a previous longtime West Des Moines resident, was confirmed to have died alongside O’Brian and Coady, as well as three other soldiers, after an identification from a medical examiner on March 11.
Marzan had several awards and decorations, including the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal and the Army Commendation Medal.
Property records show Marzan and his family lived in West Des Moines from 2007 to 2023. The Pentagon identified him as being from Sacramento, California, where he grew up. The Army Reserve said he last lived in Spotsylvania, Virginia.
Sgt. William “Nate” Howard, Iowa National Guard
Iowa National Guard Sgt. William “Nate” Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, died in an attack by a “lone ISIS gunman” on Dec. 13 in Palmyra, Syria. He was one of two Iowans to die in the attack, and three more were injured.
Howard graduated from Marshalltown High School in 2014 and was deployed to Kosovo with the Guard in 2020, most recently working as a laser engraving specialist for Emerson-Fisher Controls in Marshalltown.
“His service made him feel like he was making a difference in this world, and it definitely did,” his wife, Arianna Howard, told the Marshalltown Times-Republican.
Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, Iowa National Guard
Iowa National Guard Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, died in the Dec. 13 attack in Syria.
Torres-Tovar, the first member of his family to serve in the U.S. Military, attended elementary school and one year of middle school in Des Moines Public Schools before transferring in 2013, according to the school district.
“Thank you for your Service Son,” his father, Hugo Torres, said in a post on Facebook. “You thought I was your (hero), now you are HERO to many.”
Kyle Werner is the breaking news and public safety reporter for the Register. Reach him at kwerner@registermedia.com.
This article originally appeared on Handout: Six Iowans have died in military service since December. What to know:
Reporting by Kyle Werner, Des Moines Register / Handout
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By Kyle Werner, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
