US soldier honored after Arlington reprimand goes viral

A day after he urged the US Secretary of Defense and his entourage to observe silence at Arlington National Cemetery, soldier Thomas Iglesias was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal on Thursday. The honor was presented by Pete Hegseth during a ceremony attended by members of Iglesias’s unit, according to The Washington Post.

Iglesias, a member of the US Army’s 3rd Infantry Regiment known as the “Old Guard,” was recognized following an incident at the cemetery on Wednesday. Hegseth, his wife, and several advisers were reportedly speaking loudly and laughing as they left a Veterans Day event, after taking photos at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier memorial.

Assigned to guard the tomb, Iglesias confronted the group and asked them to follow the site’s rules, stating: “All visitors must maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times!”

The exchange was captured by media cameras covering the wreath-laying ceremony attended by US President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and senior administration and military officials. The footage quickly spread on social media, drawing criticism of Hegseth’s conduct at one of America’s most revered memorials, especially given his prior military service in Afghanistan and Iraq.

In an effort to contain the fallout, the Pentagon defended Iglesias in a statement on Wednesday, saying he had “rightly and respectfully reminded everyone of the need to observe proper conduct.”

The statement added that Hegseth “has always respected, and will continue to respect, the sacrifices made by the men and women of the armed forces to keep America safe.”

During Thursday’s reception, Hegseth awarded Iglesias the Joint Service Commendation Medal, a mid-level military honor recognizing outstanding achievement and service. The secretary shared photos from the ceremony on his social media accounts, commenting: “We love our soldiers, and we love upholding standards. Well done, soldier—keep serving, patriot.”

The incident comes amid ongoing criticism of Hegseth since he took office last year, which peaked this week with an unsuccessful attempt by members of the House of Representatives to remove him from his post.