The Green Berets

[Lachlan09]

Something I always wondered about (sometimes) in the back of my brain-cell for many years was a tune.

Picture if youz will, - in Autumn 1982, my brand-new fiancée-to-be (we’re since married and divorced !) were on a train to Glasgow one Saturday morning to look for an engagement ring, as she wasn’t happy about the selection in Edinburgh. She wanted white gold (so that later people could look at it and say ‘oh - a silver engagement ring’ and she could get snotty).

So, we’re sitting in a compartment and there’s a couple of young fellas ahead of us wearing Celtic scarves, sitting together, quiet and peaceful. I hear the compartment door behind open and four Rangers supporters walk down the aisle. All of a sudden, having spotted the Celtic boys, they start whistling a tune as they walk past. The tune was the theme tune to the 1966 John Wayne movie “The Green Berets”, you know the one, a wee bit similar to “The Longest Day” theme.

What was the significance ? Was it an insult ? If so, the Celtic boys didn’t react. Or was is paying some sort of homage in a moment of truce ?

Obviously Green Beret in Celtic/Rangers terms might summon up thoughts of IRA berets (which are black/dark blue) and the green of Celtic.

Any thoughts ?

[Duthill]

Lachie . this page from another forum might explain it .
For myself, I thought the line "Fearless men who jump and die" might have been the clincher

[Lachlan09]

Cheers - after all these years it makes sense ! So the Gers supporters weren't trying to stir anything up. I didn't think they were, judging by the Celtic fans' reactions. So it was a "friendly" encounter then !