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Soldier Who Called for Silence at Hegseth’s Veterans Day Visit Gets Medal From Him
An Army sentinel ordered visitors to maintain silence and respect at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The next day, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth personally awarded him a military medal.
From Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth/X
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is one of America's most solemn military memorials.
So when laughter broke the silence during a Veterans Day visit, the Army sentinel on duty did exactly what he had been trained to do.
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He called for silence.
What happened the next day was far more unexpected.
On November 11, Veterans Day, Army Specialist Thomas Iglesias was on duty at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. Iglesias is a member of the Army's 3rd Infantry Regiment, known as The Old Guard, the unit responsible for guarding the tomb.
The incident came after a Veterans Day ceremony attended by President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other officials.
Video from the scene showed Hegseth, his wife and several senior aides taking photographs near the tomb. Laughter and conversation could be heard.
Iglesias then stepped forward from his post and issued a command heard clearly on video:
“All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times.”
The moment quickly drew national attention.
Some reports initially described the incident as the soldier scolding Hegseth and his group. The available video shows Iglesias issuing his standard command after noise was heard near the memorial, without identifying a specific individual by name.
The Pentagon backed the soldier's actions. Sean Parnell, the Pentagon's chief spokesman, said Iglesias had “correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum.”
Then came the twist.
On November 12, just one day after the Veterans Day incident, Hegseth welcomed members of The Old Guard to the Pentagon.
There, he awarded Iglesias the Joint Service Commendation Medal for the execution of his duties at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on November 11.
Hegseth later posted photographs showing himself pinning the medal on the Army specialist and shaking his hand.
“We love soldiers. We love standards. Well done, Specialist,” Hegseth wrote.
The Joint Service Commendation Medal is a significant military award and is not typically presented to junior enlisted service members, according to Associated Press reporting.
For Iglesias, the recognition came after a moment that perfectly demonstrated the unusual responsibility carried by Tomb Guards.
Their job is not simply ceremonial. Sentinels are responsible for protecting the dignity of the memorial and ensuring visitors follow its strict standards of silence and respect.
On Veterans Day, that responsibility meant speaking up when the atmosphere around the tomb was disrupted.
A day later, the same soldier stood inside the Pentagon as the nation's defense secretary placed a medal on his chest.
Editor’s Note: Video of the November 11 incident showed laughter and conversation near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier before Specialist Thomas Iglesias issued a command directing all visitors to maintain silence and respect. The Pentagon confirmed that Iglesias acted appropriately and awarded him the Joint Service Commendation Medal the following day.
