A US Army soldier who made headlines for reprimanding Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and his senior aides at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has received a prestigious military award from the very man he scolded.
Army Specialist Thomas Iglesias was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal on Thursday, November 12, for carrying out his duties at Arlington National Cemetery.
Interestingly, the medal is rarely awarded to junior enlisted military personnel.
Sharing pictures of himself decorating the soldier on social media, Hegseth wrote: “We love soldiers. We love standards. Well done, Specialist.”
What did the soldier do?
Hegseth, accompanied by his wife Jennifer and senior Pentagon officials, was attending a Veterans Day ceremony on Wednesday when the incident occurred.
After posing for photographs in front of the memorial, members of the group were heard laughing as they walked away.
Iglesias, who was guarding the tomb, interrupted his patrol and shouted: “All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times.”
A video of the incident subsequently went viral on social media.
However, it remains unclear who was laughing or whether Hegseth himself made any noise.
Why is the tomb so significant?
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier houses the remains of unidentified American servicemen killed during the two world wars and the Korean War.
The memorial has been guarded around the clock since 1937, with soldiers undergoing rigorous training before being entrusted with the responsibility.
Meanwhile, the incident came just a day after Hegseth survived an impeachment bid in Congress.
