Veteran and political activist Randy Bryce (@IronStache) called out Pete Hegseth after the Defense Secretary shared images of him awarding the Joint Service Commendation Medal to Specialist Thomas Iglesias, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier guard who reprimanded him and his group on Veterans Day over decorum.“Soldiers can’t stand you, traitor. YOU were so e**ing disrespectful at one of our country’s most sacred sites that he had to break away from his duties to shut you up. Disgusting and disgraceful,” Randy Bryce wrote in the comment section of Pete Hegseth’s post.The Defense Secretary uploaded four images with Tomb of the Unknown Soldier guards, including Specialist Thomas Iglesias, on X. The post was captioned:“We love soldiers. We love standards. Well done, Specialist. Carry on, Patriots.”All you need to know about the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier guard who reprimanded Pete Hegseth’s entourageOn November 11, Pete Hegseth, 46, attended the Veterans Day wreath-laying ceremony with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance at the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia.After the ceremony, Pete Hegseth toured the cemetery with his wife, Jennifer Rauchet, his senior advisor and deputy assistant, Tami Radabaugh, his chief of staff, Ricky Buria, and his deputy chief of staff, Patrick Weaver.The entourage stopped near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier for a photo-op during which someone laughed audibly. It was then that Specialist Thomas Iglesias, who was on duty at the time, paused his patrol, faced the group, and said loudly:“All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times.”Thomas Iglesias is a native of Texas. He is the son of Amado Heath Iglesias and Tatiana Salvo Iglesias, according to Facebook. Thomas graduated from high school in 2020, before joining the U.S. Army.Like all other guards of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Iglesias is a member of the 3rd Infantry Regiment or The Old Guard, the oldest active-duty infantry unit in the U.S. Army, serving since 1784.According to a statement shared by the Pentagon, Specialist Thomas Iglesias was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal for “the execution of his duties at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.” Earlier, chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell shared a statement with CBS News:“The Secretary and the entire Department have always honored—and will always honor—the sacrifices our military men and women have made to keep America safe. While commemorating this solemn day, a soldier correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum.”According to tombguard.org, the guards assigned to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier are “hand-picked” and “rigorously trained.” The website continued:“They have come from every state in the Union and represent every walk of life. They are men and women from many different backgrounds and specialties. For some, this is their first unit in the Army; others are veterans of many years. Over the years, there have been Regular Army soldiers as well as Draftees.”Soldiers who begin training are often “unable to meet the standards” and those who are selected are considered “elite of the elite.”“They have strong military bearing, discipline, stamina and present an outstanding soldierly appearance… Each Sentinel must be able to flawlessly perform seven different types of walks, honors and ceremonies. They must retain vast amounts of knowledge concerning the Tomb, Arlington National Cemetery, the United States Army and their unit,” the website added.A “spotless service record” and “top physical fitness” are the primary eligibility criteria. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier guards also go through a two-week try-out and an interview that includes memorizing seven pages of the cemetery’s history word-for-word and the burial sites of nearly 300 veterans. It also includes a hundred-question badge exam pulled from 300 memorized items, with a passing score above 95%.The guards hold ranks ranging from Private First Class (PFC) through Specialist (SPC). At the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, sentinels have two duties:“To maintain the highest standards and traditions of the U.S. Army and the Nation while keeping a constant vigil at the site and to prevent any desecration or disrespect made toward the Tomb.”After nine months of “honorable service” at the Tomb, guards are awarded a silver Tomb Guard Identification Badge. Since the late 1950s, over 600 soldiers have earned the recognition.According to the Military Times, guards were assigned to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in March 1926 only for the daytime. In July 1937, 24-hour guards began their duties after the American Legion demanded nonstop oversight.Meanwhile, a federal regulation states that all national cemeteries overseen by the U.S. Army require all visitors to “observe proper standards of decorum and decency” and prohibit “disrespectful or disorderly conduct.” CNN reports suggest that on-duty guards enforce the rule against regular tourists several times a day.While Pete Hegseth’s group was talking near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, it remains unclear who made the laughing noise that prompted Specialist Iglesias to remind them of the decorum.According to the viral video, Pete Hegseth did not acknowledge Specialist Iglesias at the Tomb. He and his group looked over their shoulders before walking away.On Monday, outgoing Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky unsuccessfully introduced eight articles of impeachment against Pete Hegseth on the House floor. The following day, Republicans referred the articles to the Judiciary Committee by a 211-204 vote. The only Republican who voted “no” was Massie. Eleven Democrats were absent.Pete Hegseth called the impeachment effort a “farce” and a “stunt.” He told reporters at the Pentagon:“No Secretary of War or Secretary of Defense has ever been impeached for carrying out lawful military operations. This is not patriotism. This is sabotage.”Trump and Vance have maintained their support for Pete Hegseth.