Oh say can you see that hat on your head. National anthem confrontation brings charges against Lawrence, Kansas firefighter.

Daniel Clouse, a firefighter for Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical in Kansas has been ordered to appear in court after getting into a confrontation with a man during a performance of the Free State High School marching band. Clouse tells the Lawrence Journal World that all he did was touch Bob Mandell on the back when he approached Mandell about not taking off his hat when the National Anthem was played. Here are excerpts from an article by George Diepenbrock:

Police spokesman Sgt. Matt Sarna said that according to the report, Daniel Clouse, 47, approached Bob Mandell, 46, in the stands minutes after the Free State band played the anthem.

Clouse was upset Mandell wore his hat, so he approached him from behind and grabbed Mandell by the neck, Sarna said. .

“He grabbed me by the neck and shook me,” Mandell said. “He put his hand around the back of my neck and pressed on the left hand side with his right thumb. The spot still hurts.”

“What I said was, ‘Excuse me, sir, around here when the national anthem plays, you remove your hat. Show some respect,’” Clouse said.

Clouse said he believed Mandell was embarrassed and then called police. But Mandell said he called officers because he was hurt and that he went to the doctor Saturday because of neck pain. He also said Clouse shoved him when Clouse walked off.

Mandell said during the confrontation he apologized to Clouse and said he simply forgot to remove his hat. He said he doesn’t often attend football games and was not used to hearing the national anthem.

Mark Bradford, chief of Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical, confirmed Clouse was a firefighter.

“That particular issue is personal and a personnel matter, and I really can’t go into it,” Bradford said.

“I’m disappointed that he’s a firefighter,” Mandell said. “He should know better. I have the utmost respect for firefighters and for police and for the military. Those guys really do put it on the line for the rest of us.”