Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Awards Medal to Soldier Who Reprimanded Him at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth awarded a prestigious military medal to an Army soldier who publicly reprimanded him and members of his staff for failing to maintain proper decorum at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during Veterans Day ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery.
Army Specialist Thomas Iglesias received the Joint Service Commendation Medal on Thursday, just one day after reminding Hegseth and his entourage that visitors must remain silent and respectful at the sacred military memorial.
The incident occurred Wednesday following a Veterans Day ceremony attended by President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
Video captured Hegseth standing near the memorial with his wife, Jennifer, and several senior Pentagon officials, including Chief of Staff Ricky Buria, Deputy Chief of Staff Patrick Weaver, and senior adviser Tami Radabaugh.
The group had been taking photographs near the tomb when laughter was heard, prompting Iglesias to issue a warning from his position as a sentinel.
“All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times,” Iglesias declared.
The warning drew attention to the strict standards enforced at the memorial, where soldiers maintain a continuous vigil honoring unidentified American service members who died defending the United States.
Rather than taking disciplinary action against the soldier, Hegseth invited Iglesias and fellow members of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Regiment, known as The Old Guard, to the Pentagon the following day.
During the visit, Hegseth personally presented Iglesias with the Joint Service Commendation Medal in recognition of his performance of duty on November 11.
The defense secretary shared photographs of the ceremony on social media, praising the soldier for maintaining military standards.
“We love soldiers. We love standards. Well done, Specialist. Carry on Patriots,” Hegseth wrote.
The Pentagon also publicly defended Iglesias’ actions. Chief spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed that the soldier had acted appropriately when reminding visitors to respect the memorial’s rules.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is among the nation’s most revered military memorials, containing the remains of unidentified American service members from World War I, World War II, and the Korean War.
Members of The Old Guard maintain a 24-hour watch over the tomb, regardless of weather conditions. The soldiers are responsible for preserving the dignity of the memorial and ensuring visitors follow strict standards of conduct.
The Joint Service Commendation Medal recognizes meritorious service or achievement and is not commonly awarded to junior enlisted personnel.
Hegseth’s decision to recognize Iglesias came during a politically contentious week for the defense secretary.
On Tuesday, House Republicans blocked an impeachment effort against Hegseth led by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie and backed by Democrats.
Hegseth rejected the impeachment allegations, defending his leadership of the Pentagon and describing the effort as an attack on the administration’s military accomplishments.
Despite the political controversy surrounding the Veterans Day incident, the Pentagon’s response emphasized the importance of military discipline and respect for fallen American service members.
By personally presenting Iglesias with the medal, Hegseth publicly recognized the soldier for enforcing the same standards expected of every visitor to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, regardless of rank or position.