Country France Garrison/HQ Hanoi | Branch French Foreign Legion | |
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Active April 1, 1948 – May 31, 1949
July 1, 1948 – September 1, 1955 Type Foreign Airborne Company Part of Legion attached to III/1 RCP (1948-1949)
then 1 BEP:
1 BEP I Formation, 1948
1 BEP II Formation, 1951
1 BEP III Formation, 1954
1 REP, 1955 | ||
The Parachute Company of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment (French: Compagnie Parachutiste du 3e Régiment étranger d'Infanterie, Co. Para du 3e REI) was a foreign paratrooper company formed from the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment of the French Foreign Legion.
Contents
Creation and different nomination designations
Compagnie Parachutiste du 3e REI
When the idea of paratroopers imposed a visit on the Legion, TAP formations already presented titles of glory on all the lists of battlefields across World War II. Nevertheless, Indochina would really be the crucible in which morale "état d'esprit" and French TAP style would surface. The glory of sacrifice and the nostalgia of a lost cause would entertain the myth.
The paratrooper company of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment, (Co. Para du 3e REI) was created on April 1, 1948. The command of the Co. Para du 3e REI was entrusted to a young 23-year-old veteran, Legion lieutenant Jacques Morin as Regimental Commander or "Chef de Corps" of the Co. Para du the 3e REI from April 31, 1948 to May 31, 1949. Volunteers filled in the ranks from the foreign regiments present in already in Indochina. Dependent on the organization of the 3e REI, the raised foreign parachute company was operated under the operational missions of the 3rd Indochina Air Infantry Battalion of the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment, (III/1er RCP).
The insignia of the Parachute Company of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment was created in 1948 by the Jacques Morin. The combat company insignia represents an eastern dragon, winged and armed with a sword guarding the insignia of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment at the center of legion colors.
Campaigns (1948-1949)
Stationed at Hanoi, the Para company engaged immediately and partakes in active airborne operations. Following a series of brilliant combat action operations in the most exposed sectors of the high regions and airborne operations in the Delta, the para company of the 3e REI is dissolved on May 31, 1949. At the time of the dissolve, the para company counted : 3 Legion officers, 14 Sous-officiers, 92 Legion corporals and Legionnaires, all of whom were transferred to the first formation of the 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion, (1er BEP, I Formation) which just disembarked in Indochina.
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.