1st Foreign Parachute Battalion

See also: Battle of Route Coloniale 4

1st Foreign Parachute Battalion
1er 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 1er BEP I Formation, 1948 1er BEP II Formation, 1951 1er BEP III Formation, 1954 1er 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	1er B.E.P

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.

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. The 1^er BEP embarks in Indochina on November 12 and is engaged in combat operations in the Tonkin. On June 1, 1949, the Co. Para du 3^ème REI completed its count. 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. Heading and leading tradition was 1er BEP battalion commander Chef de Corps du 1^er BEP, Commandant Pierre Segrétain. 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. On November 21, 1953; the reconstituted 1^er BEP is parachuted on Dien Bien Phu. 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. 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. Reconstituted for the third time (1^er BEP, III formation) on May 19, 1954, the 1^er BEP leaves Indochina on February 8, 1955. The 1^er BEP totals 5 citations at the orders of the armed forces and the fourragère of the colors of the Médaille militaire. 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.

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 is the "Armed Arm of God". This Insignia is the symbol of righteous combat and fidelity to superior missions.

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

Decorations

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

Battalion commanders

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

Main article: Foreign Legion Command

1er Bataillon Etranger de Parachutistes Tenure ( 1948–1955 ) 1948–1950: chef de bataillon Pierre Segrétain(* †) (I Formation, (1er 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, 1er BEP) May 19, 1954 – September 1, 1955: chef de bataillon Pierre Paul Jeanpierre (III Formation, 1er BEP)

Notable officers and legionnaires

• Rémy Raffalli
• Roger Faulques