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A most respectable soldier
Date: 2026-Nov-12 Author: Barry Shatzman
Something you learn studying journalism is that you shouldn't pretend to get into someone's head.
If, for example, Sen. Scrooge says he voted against a bill because he's concerned about the deficit, you don't write Sen. Scrooge is concerned about the deficit. The best you can do is write that Sen. Scrooge said he's concerned about the deficit.
I'm telling you this because i know i shouldn't try to get into the head of the soldier who reprimanded Sec. of Defense Pete Hegseth on Veteran's Day at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier when Hegseth and his party decided to have a good chuckle there.
Overnight, the soldier became a celebrity. There even was a fake Time magazine Person of the Year cover made to honor him. You're probably honoring him too.
Cool. He absolutely deserves all that honor. But not for the reason you're honoring him.
So here's where i do what i just said i shouldn't do.
Hegseth's act - at what is arguably the most solemn spot in the country - is one of the most disgusting things anyone in a Trump administration has done to disrespect members of the military.
But while i can't speak for the soldier, i bet he'd tell you he just was doing his job. He'd also say that, had it been any other sentinel on duty, they would have done exactly the same. And... since the tomb is anonymous, my guess is he'd rather stay that way too. So i'm betting he'd tell you that he isn't a hero. The real heroes are whoever is buried in that tomb.
The dedication of the sentinels who guard the tomb is beyond compare. And that dedication is to the service members entombed there. So think about the anger you felt when you saw the head of the military basically dancing on their graves, Now imagine what his anger must have been like.
My point is, while you're praising this sentinel for what he did, i think he deserves even more honor for his discipline in what he didn't do.
It's restraint and respect for our service members that Hegseth cannot even imagine.
Did you think i was done?
You know what's really sad here? It's that i had to qualify my "most disgusting" label above with "one of". But remember when Trump called John McCain a loser because he was captured in war? Or when he wore a white baseball cap to the dignified transfer of service members killed in Iran? How bout when he skipped a ceremony to honor American World War 1 soldiers. At least he had a good reason for that one.
Too far away? How bout Trump's smiling thumbs-up right there at Arlington National Cemetery two years ago?
Too long ago? Fine. Does yesterday work? Also at Arlington... when Trump referred to to service members as mighty wall of flesh and blood.
So... while you're right to blame Hegseth, let's also honor our service members by letting them know we have their sixes against all disrespect. Just as they have ours.