jordan pulse -

WASHINGTON
​US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has awarded a high-ranking military medal to the soldier who reprimanded him and his entourage at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier following Veterans Day ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery.
​On Thursday, Hegseth shared photos on social media showing him pinning the medal onto the soldier's uniform and shaking his hand, writing in his post: "We love soldiers. We love standards. Well done, Specialist."
​Hegseth warmly welcomed the Army unit tasked with guarding the tomb at the Pentagon, presenting Specialist Thomas Iglesias with the Joint Service Commendation Medal "for the performance of his duties at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on November 11, 2026," according to a Pentagon announcement.
​Iglesias had rebuked Hegseth and a group of his aides after loud laughter broke out while they were taking photos at the site following a ceremony attended by President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. Video footage from Wednesday showed Hegseth posing on the empty steps in front of the tomb alongside his wife Jennifer, Chief of Staff Ricky Buria, Deputy Chief of Staff Patrick Weaver, and Senior Advisor Tammy Radabaugh.
​The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is one of the most solemn and revered war memorials in the United States, serving as the final resting place for unidentified service members from World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. Since 1948, it has been guarded continuously around the clock, in all weather conditions, by sentinels from the 3rd US Infantry Regiment, known as "The Old Guard."
​Source: Rum News Agency