 Which of these is the best explanation for why Read put on his green beret during the battle?
THE GREEN BERET By TOM PURDOM It's not so much the decisions a man does make that mark him as a Man—but the ones he refrains from making. Illustrated by Schoenherr Read locked the door and drew his pistol. If Umluana noticed Read's gun, he didn't show it. "Corporal Read is very young," Rashid said, "but he's a crack shot. Two men with rifles plunged into the gas; sighing, they fell to the floor in a catatonic trance. The other inspector carried a light machine gun and a box of grenades. A grenade arced from the bushes and the pursuers recoiled from the cloud that rose before them. Two types of recruits are accepted by the UN Inspector Corps: those with a fanatic loyalty to the ideals of peace and world order, and those who are loyal to nothing but themselves. It was the home of factory workers, clerks, semiskilled technicians, all who do the drudge work of civilization and know they will never do more. No one knew how many times he nearly ran from other clubs, how carefully he picked the safest spot on the battle line. The international cops wore green berets, high buttonless boots, bush jackets. The UN Inspector Corps had been founded to enforce the Nuclear Disarmament Treaty of 1966. Trained to use small arms and gas weapons, they guarded certain borders, bodyguarded diplomats and UN officials, even put down riots that threatened international peace. As the UN evolved into a strong world government, the UN Inspector Corps steadily acquired new powers. Read went through six months training on Madagascar. Rather than resign, he accepted punishment which assigned him to weeks of dull, filthy extra labor. One power implied in the UN Charter no Secretary General or Inspector General had ever tried to use. The power to arrest any head of state whose country violated international law. Could the World Court try and imprison a politician who had conspired to attack another nation? Men planted bases on the moon and in four years, 1978-82, ringed the world with matter transmitters; but the black population of Africa still struggled toward political equality. He began a propaganda war against neighboring South Africa, promising the liberation of that strife-torn land. Most Negro leaders, having just won representation in the South African Parliament, told him to liberate his own country. China called the uproar a vicious slur on a new African nation. The United States and Russia, trying not to get entangled, asked for more investigation by the UN.
 He found some comfort in the familiar uniform.
 He thought it would offer him some protection he got shot.  He found some comfort in the familiar uniform.  It was annoying keeping it in his pocket and this was less distracting.  He wanted to make sure others in the battle could identify him, to avoid friendly fire.