1st Foreign Parachute Battalion

See also: Battle of Route Coloniale 4

The 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion (French: 1^er Bataillon Etranger de Parachutistes (1^er BEP)) was a parachute battalion of the Foreign Legion formed from the Parachute Company of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment.

1st Foreign Parachute Battalion
1^er Bataillon Etranger de Parachutistes
Battalion Insignia
Active	July 1, 1948 – November 17, 1950 March 1, 1951 – 1954 May 19, 1954 - September 1, 1955
Country	France
Branch	French Army
Type	Paratrooper
Role	Airborne force Close-quarters combat Counter-insurgency Desert warfare Jungle warfare Raiding Reconnaissance
Size	Battalion
Part of	Legion REP 1^er BEP I Formation, 1948 1^er BEP II Formation, 1951 1^er BEP III Formation, 1954 1^er REP, 1955
Garrison/HQ	Khamisis
Colors	Green and Red
Anniversaries	Camerone Day
Engagements	First Indochina War Operation Castor Battle of Dien Bien Phu
Commanders
Notable commanders	Pierre Segretain Pierre Jeanpierre
Abbreviation	1^er B.E.P

History

Main articles: List of French paratrooper units, Pierre Segretain, and Pierre Jeanpierre

1^er Bataillon Etranger de Parachutistes, 1^er BEP - I, II, III Formations -

The 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion, (1^er BEP, I formation) was created on July 1, 1948 at Khamisis, in Algeria.^[1] The 1^er BEP embarks in Indochina on November 12 and is engaged in combat operations in the Tonkin.^[1] On June 1, 1949, the Co. Para du 3^ème REI completed its count.^[1] On November 17, 1950; the 1^er BEP (1^er BEP, I Formation) jumps on That Khé and sacrifices itself in Coc Xa to protect the unfolding of the RC4 in a traditional Foreign Legion battlefield.^[1] Heading and leading tradition was 1er BEP battalion commander Chef de Corps du 1^er BEP, Commandant Pierre Segrétain.^[1] Segrétain was fatally wounded while leading the BEP during the Battle of Route Coloniale 4.

The battalion dissolved on December 31, 1950; is reconstituted on March 1, 1951 (1^er BEP, II formation) and is seen participating excessively in combat operations at Cho Ben, on the black river and at Annam.^[1] On November 21, 1953; the reconstituted 1^er BEP is parachuted on Dien Bien Phu.^[1] In this gigantic battle, the reconstituted (1^er BEP, II formation) 1^er BEP counts 575 killed and missing for the second time in a traditional Foreign Legion battlefield.^[1] Amongst the fatal casualties feature Lieutenants Dumont, Boisbouvier and de Stabenrath, killed in between April 1 and May 13 as well as Sergent-Chef Grimault, killed on March 30.^[1] Reconstituted for the third time (1^er BEP, III formation) on May 19, 1954, the 1^er BEP leaves Indochina on February 8, 1955.^[1] The 1^er BEP totals 5 citations at the orders of the armed forces and the fourragère of the colors of the Médaille militaire.^[1] The 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion (1^er BEP, III Formation) becomes the 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment (1^er REP) in Algeria on September 1, 1955.

The insignia of the 1st Foreign Paratrooper Battalion was created in 1948 by Commandant Segrétain, battalion commander Chef de Bataillon, CBA of the 1^er BEP.^[1]

Traditions

 

The Archangel Michael featured in Mont Saint-Michel and the Insignia of the 9th Parachute Chasseur Regiment.

 

Colonel Paul Marie Félix Jacques René Arnaud de Foïard
(1921-2005).

•  
  French and Foreign Legion Parachute Brevet.
•  
  Circled Winged Armed Dextrochere of Foreign Legion Paratroopers

Insignias

The insignia of the Foreign Legion Paratroopers of France represents a closed "winged armed dextrochere", meaning a "right winged arm" armed with a sword pointing upwards. The Insignia makes reference to the Patron of Paratroopers. In fact, the Insignia represents "the right Arm of Saint Michael", the Archangel which according to Liturgy^{[dubious ]} is the "Armed Arm of God". This Insignia is the symbol of righteous combat and fidelity to superior missions.

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  1^er BEP
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  Co. Para du 3^e REI in the 1^er REP and 1^er BEP
•  
  1^er REP

Battalion Colors

Battalion Song

Decorations

•  
  5 citations with Fourragère with ruban colors of Médaille militaire
•  
  Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures

Honours

Battle honours

Battalion commanders

1st Foreign Parachute Battalion, 1^er BEP (1948–1955 ) - I, II, III Formations -

Main article: Foreign Legion Command

1^er Bataillon Etranger de Parachutistes Tenure ( 1948–1955 )^[2] 1948–1950: chef de bataillon Pierre Segrétain(* †) (I Formation, (1^er BEP) Acting second-in-command Adjoint: Pierre Paul Jeanpierre 1950– 1950: captain Raffalli 1950–1950: captain Vieules 1951–1952: chef de bataillon Pierre Darmuzai (II Formation, 1er BEP) 1952–1953: chef de bataillon Brothier 1953–1954: chef de bataillon Maurice Guiraud 1954–1954: captain Chalony (par intérim) 1954–1954: captain Hélie Denoix de Saint-Marc (by interim) 1954–1954: captain Germain November 1, 1954: chef de bataillon Pierre Paul Jeanpierre (II Formation, 1^er BEP) May 19, 1954 – September 1, 1955: chef de bataillon Pierre Paul Jeanpierre (III Formation, 1^er BEP)

Notable officers and legionnaires

• Rémy Raffalli
• Roger Faulques

References

1. [1] 2015-07-01 at the Wayback Machine Official Website of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment, History of the 2e REP, the 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion 1er Bataillon Etranger de Parachutistes
2. [2] 2015-07-01 at the Wayback Machine Official Website of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment, Historique du 2e REP, 1er Bataillon Etranger de Parachutistes, Les Chefs de Corps