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(CNN) -A 73-year-old Veteran says he was fired from a Cracker Barrel restaurant for giving a needy man a few condiment packets and a corn muffing. He admits it was against the restaurant’s rules, but he says he thinks it was the right thing to do.

For the past three years, Joe Koblenzer has put on his brown and yellow Cracker Barrel apron and greeted those who come into the Venice, Florida location.

“It’s a fun job. A job really suited to me,” said Koblenzer. Two weeks ago, he says a man who looked like he might be homeless came through the doors.

“He looked a little needy. He asked I had any mayonnaise and some tarter sauce. He said he was going to cook a fish.”

Koblenzer says he obliged and put a corn muffin in. That gesture apparently cost him his job.

“The general manager called me in and said he had some bad news for me,” Koblenzer began. “Joe we are going to have to let you go.”

He admits he’s been written up before. Two years ago, he got a fountain drink on the job and once, he gave a woman a cup of coffee. He claims she actually paid for it.

“It’s a rule. They legally can do this because I did break the rule.”