Hegseth awards medal to soldier who scolded him at Arlington Cemetery
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth awarded a medal to a service member who reprimanded him at Arlington National Cemetery on November 11. Hegseth announced the award on X on Thursday, November 12. The soldier, identified by CNN as "Specialist Iglesias," received the Joint Service Achievement Medal for duties near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Hegseth wrote, "We love soldiers. We love rules. Well done, specialist," without naming the recipient. Video circulated online showing the guard shouting that all visitors must maintain silence and show respect after someone in Hegseth's group laughed. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the soldier "correctly and respectfully reminded everyone of proper conduct."