U.S. Airways is receiving a barrage of cannon fire - on social media - after what many called the shoddy treatment of a U.S. Army Ranger who just wanted his uniform jacket hung in the closet of a flight from Portland, Oregon to Charlotte, North Carolina on Thursday.

Sergeant First Class Albert Marle just didn't want his decorated jacket wrinkled on the flight so he could put it on when he gets off the plane. So he approached a flight attendant and asked if she could hang his jacket somewhere.

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But the flight attendant flatly refused, saying the only closet space on the plane was reserved for use by first-class passengers only.

It was not going to be an issue and Sgt. Marle calmly turned away and got back  to his seat carrying his jacket - but other passengers had heard the short exchang and thought it wasn't the right way to treat an American serviceman.

Passenger Cliff Autrey on first class tried to intervene  when he heard the flight attendant, but was told to sit down, or she would call the captain. Autrey was interviewed on Fox News and said he even offered to swap his seat with the sergeant from economy but even that was refused.

Eventually, another attendant took Sgt. Marle's jacket and hang it in the closet, but that has not prevented many of the passengers from taking to social media and voicing displeasure over the way U.S. Airways treats its passengers.

After passengers spread word of the incident online, it quickly went viral, with thousands of social media users condemning the airline for its 'shameful' behavior toward Sgt Marle.

Some current servicemen and veterans even offered to explain  why it was important to hang a uniform jacket, which has rows of award ribbons, metal pins, and buttons attached on the sleeves, chest, and pocket flaps.

The airline company issued an apology later on Friday, with a spokesman saying they were trying to get in touch with the Army Ranger to thank him for his service.