Theres a very easy to this. The Vet should have been escorted outside by security, allowed to smoke, then bought back in. After all if they can bend one rule, they can bend any rule.
I'm with PB in my opinion on vets, especialy ww2 vets. The area where i live provided a lot of the spitfire fighter pilots for ww2. I got to meet and talk with a couple of them. Their a very different breed to modern people and do deserve our respect for the way they fought for the freedom of the majority of the western world.
That said other people shouldnt have to breathe his smoke. Even when i was a smoker i wouldnt of lit up around non smokers in a enclosed space. It sounds like the guy didnt have long left, why not make a exception and let him leave the terminal.
My Milage:
My Quit Date: 7/6/2009 Smoke-Free Days: 9 Cigarettes Not Smoked: 180 Amount Saved: �52.65 Life Gained: Days: 1 Hrs: 9 Mins: 13 Seconds: 10