US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth awarded the Meritorious Service Medal to service member Thomas Iglesias, who had publicly reprimanded him a day earlier for laughing near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, infohub.kz reports.
The award is considered one of the highest in the US Armed Forces and is rarely given to junior enlisted personnel.
The incident occurred the day before the award ceremony. The sentinel guarding the memorial at Arlington National Cemetery scolded the secretary and his aides for laughing near the memorial — the episode was caught on camera. Hegseth was taking part in a wreath-laying ceremony and lingered on the steps by the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to pose for a photo with his wife and aides. After the photo was taken, the group began walking up the steps and someone in it laughed loudly.
The guard interrupted his patrol, turned toward the departing officials and shouted after them: "All visitors are required to maintain silence and show respect at all times!" Hegseth turned at his words but said nothing. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the soldier "correctly and respectfully reminded everyone of the need to observe propriety."
It was previously reported that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced impeachment threats. Congressman Thomas Massie filed eight charges against him related to military operations and legal violations. Nevertheless, the US House of Representatives blocked an attempt to begin impeachment proceedings against the Pentagon chief.