Oldie Quiz

[tipton-rotty]

thanks for answers gift and oho cant be right i put gift in straight away but the down clues are correct which makes the letters as i put them
I _ T _ (4)
C_O (3)

[Flonska]

2. Coo

[Flonska]

The clue would suggest that soldier maybe GI (US Infantryman) + Newspaper FT (Financial Times. present = Gift.

Whats are the down clues that give you the i and t?

[Pyxis]

I'm tearing my hair out over 15a too.
Present soldier with newspaper(4)
I_T_

The I is determined by 1d, which is Fish I snared at sea (7)
SardIne
(Anagram)

The T is determined by 2d, which is Grim rust on a neglected sports car (4,7)
Gran Turismo
(Anagram)

Gift would fit perfectly, were it not for those down clues. :-(

And it's my last clue, so soooooo frustrating!

[Pyxis]

Coo is correct.

It's an expression of surprise, plus a homonym (being announced) of coup (triumph)