A great soldier has gone

[Capitaine Vengeur 263]

Raised from the ranks, hero in the Free French Forces, most-famed scourge for his ennemies in Indochina and Algeria, key conceptor in counter-insurgency tactics, the most decorated French soldier, General Bigeard has gone yesterday...

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcel_Bigeard

[Nesher 628]

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[+Dave 2,322]

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[FalconC45 158]

 

Falcon

[Capitaine Vengeur 263]

An anecdote not in the Wiki article. In March 1954, when the Viêtminh launched their attack on Diên Biên Phu and captured three strongpoints within the first three days, the extensive Chinese community in Hanoi bet with odds largely in favor of Giap. The odds completely reversed in favor of the French at the sole news that Bigeard's battalion shall be dropped as reinforcement.For decades, General Bigeard has been in France an old living flag for the pro-military as well as an old living target for the anti-military. Mostly during the 1970s, he has largely inspired common caricatures of the beast paratrooper (Beret, Boots, Balls, Brawl, Beer and Brothel). Nobody else here by now would ever be able to suit such a role.

 

He had always said that he wanted his dead body to be cremated and his ashes to be dropped on Diên Biên Phu, just the way himself had been twice in 1953 and 1954, on the place where he had left so many of his boys. Latest news: it will be made, with the Vietnamese merciful authorization.