Defense Secretary Hegseth Awards Medal to Sentinel Who Reprimanded Him at Tomb
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth awarded a Joint Service Commendation Medal to Army Specialist Thomas Iglesias, the sentinel who reprimanded him for laughing at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Veterans Day. Hegseth presented the medal Thursday at the Pentagon, praising Iglesias on social media with "We love soldiers. We love standards." A War Department official confirmed the award recognized Iglesias's execution of his duties at the memorial on November 11, 2026. The incident stemmed from a viral clip where Iglesias shouted at Hegseth's entourage to maintain silence and respect. The sentinels of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment guard the tomb 24/7 and wear no insignia to honor the unidentified soldiers buried there.