Video From Travis Air Force Shows Veteran Airman Forcibly Removed From Retirement Ceremony

The Air Force is conducting an investigation after a video surfaced of a retired Air Force Sergeant being forcibly removed from a ceremony at a California base.

The incident took place on April 3 at Travis Air Force Base near Sacramento, at the retirement ceremony of an unidentified master sergeant.

Retired Senior Master Sgt. Oscar Rodriguez, in civilian clothing, is shown in the footage attempting to read a prepared statement about the American flag before three uniformed airmen forcibly remove him.

The military blog JQP Public said the incident may be a result of “bad blood” between Rodriguez and the current commanding officer of the 749th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.

A Facebook user claiming to be a friend of the master sergeant being honored at the ceremony said that Rodriguez was at the ceremony as a guest of his friend.

“He speaks the words of the color and strip[es] as they fold the flag. The squadron commander and Oscar have issues from years ago [and] the commander said he did not want him in the building nor saying the words to the flag. Remember he is my friends guest. So instead of letting him finish what he started saying he had his trolls assault him dragging him out of the building as you can [hear] him still saying the words to the flag,” the user said.

“And you can [hear] Joe saying ‘do it do it.’ Theater is full of family and guests and fellow Air Force members. This could have been handled in a much better way instead of tainting my friends retirement. This is how we treat our fellow Air Force veterans. Yes I’m [expletive] off.”

Stephan Sila, later posted a message, saying he was the officiating officer for the ceremony. He said the retiring sergeant invited Rodriguez to the ceremony to speak words as the flag was folded, after attending another ceremony recently that Rodriguez spoke at and being moved. But the commanding officer banned Rodriguez from attending the ceremony. The officer soon learned he couldn’t do that, but did then say that Rodriguez could not say the words.

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He said the whole thing is “ridiculous stupidity” and “will tarnish my friend’s great memories.”

Sila also said the incident has angered many non-commissioned officers.

“Why do you think people are leaving (the Air Force) in droves?” Sila wrote. “Because the guys in the trenches are subjected to nonstop stupidity from commanders who don’t deserve the rank, respect, or support of the people they’re in charge of.”

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A spokesman from the Air Force Reserve told Fox News that the confrontation stemmed from “an unplanned participation” at the event.

“Rodriguez ignored numerous requests to respect the Air Force prescribed ceremony and unfortunately was forcibly removed,” a Travis official said. “We will continue to investigate the situation fully.”