Pentagon: Hegseth honors guard who enforced silence at Tomb

The U.S. Department of Defense has recognized a junior enlisted soldier for his conduct at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, Virginia. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth awarded Spc. Thomas Iglesias the Joint Service Commendation Medal for his actions on November 11, 2026.

The incident occurred during a Veterans Day ceremony where President Donald Trump laid a wreath in honor of fallen soldiers. Video footage captured Hegseth, his wife Jennifer, and senior aides taking photographs on the empty steps in front of the memorial. As the group finished their photos, a loud laugh was heard, prompting Iglesias to intervene.

Iglesias issued a verbal reprimand, stating that all visitors must maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times. The Tomb, the final resting place for unidentified soldiers from World War I, World War II, and the Korean War, has been guarded around the clock by members of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Regiment since 1948.

A Pentagon official told NBC News that Hegseth welcomed the soldiers of the Old Guard to the Pentagon to present the award. The official stated the medal was given for the execution of Iglesias’s duties at the site on November 11, 2026. The Joint Service Commendation Medal is considered one of the higher military awards and is rarely issued to junior enlisted service members.

Hegseth shared a photograph on social media showing himself pinning the award on Iglesias. He wrote in an accompanying post, “We love soldiers. We love standards. Well done, Specialist.” The department’s action follows the public release of video showing the exchange between the secretary’s party and the tomb guard.