USA: Hegseth honors soldier who yelled at him

The soldier who rebuked a group led by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington will receive a medal from the Defense Secretary himself. Hegseth posted photos on social media showing him pinning the soldier with an award and shaking his hand. His post says: »We love soldiers. We love standards. Well done, Specialist.”

The Pentagon said Hegseth received the Army unit guarding the tomb and awarded soldier Thomas Iglesias the Joint Service Commendation Medal "for the performance of his duties at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on November 11, 2026." The Joint Service Commendation Medal is considered one of the higher honors in the military and is not typically awarded to junior soldiers in ordinary service.

Previously, on US Veterans Day, Iglesias loudly admonished Hegseth, his wife and a group of his employees. “All visitors must ensure an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times,” shouted the soldier dressed in parade uniform after loud laughter and snatches of conversation could be heard from the group around Hegseth. Hegseth and his companions turned around briefly before continuing on. Previously, President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance also attended a ceremony in Arlington.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a significant memorial to U.S. soldiers who died in World War I, World War II and the Korean War. It also includes an empty gravesite honoring missing soldiers. Since 1948, it has been guarded 24 hours a day, rain or shine, by a soldier from the Army's 3rd Infantry Regiment, also known as "The Old Guard."

Here you can see in the video how soldier Thomas Iglesias shouts a group around US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to order.