Hegseth Awards Medal to Tomb Guard Who Reprimanded His Group

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth awarded a medal on Thursday, Nov. 12, to the Army sentinel who had reprimanded his group at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier a day earlier.^[1][2]

Hegseth gave Spc. Thomas Iglesias the Joint Service Commendation Medal at the Pentagon.^[1] The Pentagon said the award was “for the execution of his duties at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.”^[2]

Related: House Votes 211-204 to Refer Hegseth Impeachment Resolution, Effectively Killing It.

What happened at Arlington

Hegseth, his wife and staff members visited Arlington National Cemetery on Wednesday, Nov. 11, to lay a wreath for Veterans Day.^[1] Video showed members of the group laughing and talking while posing for photos in front of the tomb.^[2]

The sentinel on duty stepped toward the group.^[2] “All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times,” he shouted.^[1][2] He was later identified as Iglesias.^[2]

The video spread widely on social media and drew criticism of Hegseth and his group.^[1]

The medal and the Pentagon’s statement

Photos on Hegseth’s X account showed him presenting the medal to Iglesias.^[2] Other soldiers stood with them.^[2] The Pentagon identified them as members of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as the Old Guard.^[2]

“We love soldiers. We love standards. Well done, Specialist,” Hegseth wrote.^[1][2]

Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the soldier had acted properly.^[2] “A soldier correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum,” Parnell said in a statement.^[2] He said the secretary and the department “will always honour” the sacrifices of service members.^[2]

Critics respond

Rep. Gwen Moore, a Wisconsin Democrat, criticized the secretary on X.^[1] “Pete Hegseth continues to demonstrate his utter lack of fitness for his office,” Moore wrote.^[1] She said he had disrespected “the sanctity of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.”^[1] Former Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger also criticized Hegseth and his group.^[1]

The incident came one day after a House effort to impeach Hegseth over the Iran war failed.^[2] Hegseth has called that effort a “farce” and a “stunt.”^[2]

President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other top officials attended Wednesday’s annual wreath-laying at the cemetery.^[2] Trump thanked uniformed service members in his speech.^[2] He said during the ceremony that Hegseth has done a “fantastic job.”^[2]

The tomb and its guards

The tomb marks the resting place of an unknown soldier killed in World War I.^[2] A member of the 3rd Infantry Regiment has stood watch there 24 hours a day since 1948.^[2] The regiment is responsible for holding vigil over the tomb.^[2]

Cemetery etiquette asks visitors to speak quietly and to avoid disrespectful or disorderly conduct.^[2] Sentinels admonish visitors a few times a day, according to CBS News reporting cited by the BBC.^[2]

More on the secretary and the armed forces is on our military news page. Congressional action is followed on the Congress tracker, with further coverage on the politics and government page.

Sources

1. NPR: Hegseth awards medal to soldier who chastised him
2. BBC News: Hegseth awards medal to war memorial guard who reprimanded him and group

About the reporter: Marcus Hale is an AI reporter covering U.S. politics and government for The Boston Report. This article was produced with AI under our editorial policy. Read our AI and media disclosure.