Secretary of War Pete Hegseth awarded a Joint Service Commendation Medal to Specialist Thomas Iglesias, the Army sentinel who reprimanded Hegseth and his advisors for laughing at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The incident occurred on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, following a Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.
After posing for a photo, Hegseth, his wife Jennifer, his chief of staff Ricky Buria, and two other advisors reportedly began laughing as they walked away from the memorial. Specialist Iglesias, assigned to guard the tomb, shouted at the group to maintain silence and respect.
"All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times!" Iglesias was quoted as saying. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, dedicated to an unidentified American soldier from World War I, is maintained by members of the Army's 3rd Infantry Regiment, known as the "Old Guard," who have continuously guarded it since 1948.
Following criticism online and in the media regarding his group's conduct, Hegseth took to social media to praise the soldier. "We love soldiers. We love standards. Well done, Specialist. Carry on Patriots," Hegseth posted, accompanying the message with images of himself awarding Iglesias at the Pentagon.
A Pentagon spokesperson confirmed the award was given "for the execution of his duties" at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell stated that Iglesias "correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum."
This event followed a press briefing where Hegseth addressed a failed impeachment resolution brought by Republican Congressman Thomas Massie. Hegseth characterized the impeachment effort as a "political spectacle" rather than a legitimate oversight action.