Saturday, April 16, 2011

FOREIGN LEGION IN COMBAT - COTE d-IVOIRE

I just found out what outfit from the Legion it was that was present with us on the battlefield in Ivory Coast, 2002.


2eme REGIMENT ETRANGER PARACHUTIST (2nd Regiment, Foreign Legion Paratroopers) FIRE FIGHT FOOTAGE, IVORY COAST, 2003:









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4 comments:

  1. Very cool, very professional, very effective. It makes me proud of my half-French ancestry.

    But what is this "Stop, stop" business?

    Shouldn't a French officer say "arretez"?

    The First Regiment, of course, was disbanded for the coup attempt.

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  2. The Officer isn't a Frenchman...........Not all Legionaires are Foreign or French. The reason they are the "Best" fighting force in France, is because The Legion isn't all French. A large majority that I met in Saudia Arabia and Kuwait were Argentine, English, Serbian, and Croats, mixed in with the French. (One American, who was a Sergent Chef, was a former USMC)

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  3. I was under the impression that Legion officers were all French. Am I wrong?

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  4. Yup! your impression is wrong. In the early days of the Legion, the Officers were French, that changed over time. The majority of the Officers in the Legion are still French.....but, 10% of the French Officers are Prior Service and non-French. Captain John("Jack")F. Hasey (USA) was a Captain if the Legion during WWII. There were many German, Polish, Russian, and Royals from other countries to serve as Officers in the Legion.

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