Hegseth awards medal to soldier who reprimanded group near tomb
Also reported by Newsweek, The Hill, France24, ABC News, Al Jazeera
Summary
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth awarded Specialist Thomas Iglesias the Joint Service Commendation Medal on November 12, 2026. Iglesias had called for silence and respect while guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during a Veterans Day event attended by Hegseth and President Donald Trump.Key Facts
- Iglesias serves with the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as the Old Guard.
- The Old Guard guards the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery around the clock.
- Iglesias was on duty after a Veterans Day event on November 11, 2026.
- Video showed Hegseth, his wife, his chief of staff, and other aides posing for photos near the tomb.
- After someone laughed, Iglesias told visitors to maintain silence and respect.
- A Pentagon official said Hegseth presented Iglesias with the Joint Service Commendation Medal for his duties at the tomb.
- A member of the regiment said in a 2022 Army interview that sentinels respond to the crowd two or three times per day.
