Peter Lyderik
8th May 2005, 19:39
Gentlemen,
Someone asked for an appraisal of French Para units circa Dien BienPhu/Indochina war era. I will attempt an answer although I have no access right now to the forum so I would ask anyone to respond back to me at :
colonelbooth@.... I am moving toward Iraq as I type this.
This will be a short answer as time limits my response and I apologize for that. My resources for reference are not at reach either. So from memory, I will now respond.
1. From 1945-Dien Bien Phu there were about 245 airborne operations in Indochina. If you consider that number you can reflect that US Abn operations were way under 30 for WWII. We are not counting GCMA nor OSS drops in these accounts. We are talking dropping Company and larger tactical units. Windrows book "The Last Valley" (Which I think is the definitive book on DBP and for background in English on Fr. Indo War) clearly documents the operations tempo (current Army speak OPTEMPO) of French Abn units which is absolutely incredible. The 6th BPC had like three weeks off in three years. Their deployment into combat was nearly continous. This was the norm for all Colonial and Legion Para units. These were truly volunteers and by DBP, 60% of their ranks were filled by Vietnamese paratroopers in company size units. 6BPC had two companies pure French Para and two Viet Para companies with mixed Fr/Viet leadership. 8th Para Assault/Choc had same but did not separate the companies , they chose to include Viet Para in all companies. Legion included all Fr/Legionnaires and Viet Para in all companies too.
2. Consider that 1 BEP was destroyed and reconstituted 3 times from 45-54 period.
3. Consider the nearly continuous deployment of these units, number of operations, casualties and it is clear these were first rate paratrooper units. Their NCO leadership was just amazing. You read of Bigeard and other officers but let's be honest: they had the best NCO's otherwise such feats as the para's did in Indochina would not have happened. Leadership does count and does make a difference. I will not discount the officers but my 30 yrs of experience tells me the secret of success was the NCO corps
these para units had. That might be my just opinion but I feel it is ground truth so I offer it to you.
4. Now a story that you will Not read in English. There is a book by Bigeard in French titled "A piece of Glory". I paid a translator to put into English the part on DBP. Many of you do not realize what happened the night before 6th BPC jumped back into DBP (for the second time) to bolster the garrisons morale and put starch back into the fight. So here goes: 6BPC had finished its 3 year tour and due to rotate home and was drunk on
their asses and completely stood down. They were to deploy back to Metopolitan France and deactivate the next morning. Bigeard late this evening of the stand down is brought to Cogny's office and was told he had to take the 6th back to DBP as the situation was critical and Bigeard begs Cogny to let the 6th go home and let Bigeard lead another Colonial para Bn back to DBP and clean up the sorry mess of the battle there. Cogny was convinced that only Bigeard and the 6th could save the day. Cogny orders Bigeard to take in the 6th BCP. Bigeard heavy at heart salutes and goes back to the battalion. So Bigeard returns to his unit late in the evening, announces the order, they re-arm, re-equipe, get their unit back to fighting order (sober up too) and launch out the next sunrise in Dakota's to jump into DBP and as you all know, their anniliation. No bitching, no IG complaints, just salute and drive on. Damned impressive.
5. In closing: That example of 6th BPC answers the basic question on the quality and professionalism of the French Para units in the first Indochina War. It's called professionalism and those men were definitely professional paratroopers. Damned awesome performance in my opinion.
6. I hope some of this makes sense and captures a proper response to the original question. If I can provide any other information from my research over the years, I would be honored to attempt to do if requested.
7. I am French (and South Vietnamese) para qualified. My French wings I buried at D10 in the valley of DBP. I was proud to jump with both units and wear their wings when I was on active duty. I am not unbiased on my high estimation of the French Abn and the Vietnamese Abn Division.
My best to all,
Booth
Someone asked for an appraisal of French Para units circa Dien BienPhu/Indochina war era. I will attempt an answer although I have no access right now to the forum so I would ask anyone to respond back to me at :
colonelbooth@.... I am moving toward Iraq as I type this.
This will be a short answer as time limits my response and I apologize for that. My resources for reference are not at reach either. So from memory, I will now respond.
1. From 1945-Dien Bien Phu there were about 245 airborne operations in Indochina. If you consider that number you can reflect that US Abn operations were way under 30 for WWII. We are not counting GCMA nor OSS drops in these accounts. We are talking dropping Company and larger tactical units. Windrows book "The Last Valley" (Which I think is the definitive book on DBP and for background in English on Fr. Indo War) clearly documents the operations tempo (current Army speak OPTEMPO) of French Abn units which is absolutely incredible. The 6th BPC had like three weeks off in three years. Their deployment into combat was nearly continous. This was the norm for all Colonial and Legion Para units. These were truly volunteers and by DBP, 60% of their ranks were filled by Vietnamese paratroopers in company size units. 6BPC had two companies pure French Para and two Viet Para companies with mixed Fr/Viet leadership. 8th Para Assault/Choc had same but did not separate the companies , they chose to include Viet Para in all companies. Legion included all Fr/Legionnaires and Viet Para in all companies too.
2. Consider that 1 BEP was destroyed and reconstituted 3 times from 45-54 period.
3. Consider the nearly continuous deployment of these units, number of operations, casualties and it is clear these were first rate paratrooper units. Their NCO leadership was just amazing. You read of Bigeard and other officers but let's be honest: they had the best NCO's otherwise such feats as the para's did in Indochina would not have happened. Leadership does count and does make a difference. I will not discount the officers but my 30 yrs of experience tells me the secret of success was the NCO corps
these para units had. That might be my just opinion but I feel it is ground truth so I offer it to you.
4. Now a story that you will Not read in English. There is a book by Bigeard in French titled "A piece of Glory". I paid a translator to put into English the part on DBP. Many of you do not realize what happened the night before 6th BPC jumped back into DBP (for the second time) to bolster the garrisons morale and put starch back into the fight. So here goes: 6BPC had finished its 3 year tour and due to rotate home and was drunk on
their asses and completely stood down. They were to deploy back to Metopolitan France and deactivate the next morning. Bigeard late this evening of the stand down is brought to Cogny's office and was told he had to take the 6th back to DBP as the situation was critical and Bigeard begs Cogny to let the 6th go home and let Bigeard lead another Colonial para Bn back to DBP and clean up the sorry mess of the battle there. Cogny was convinced that only Bigeard and the 6th could save the day. Cogny orders Bigeard to take in the 6th BCP. Bigeard heavy at heart salutes and goes back to the battalion. So Bigeard returns to his unit late in the evening, announces the order, they re-arm, re-equipe, get their unit back to fighting order (sober up too) and launch out the next sunrise in Dakota's to jump into DBP and as you all know, their anniliation. No bitching, no IG complaints, just salute and drive on. Damned impressive.
5. In closing: That example of 6th BPC answers the basic question on the quality and professionalism of the French Para units in the first Indochina War. It's called professionalism and those men were definitely professional paratroopers. Damned awesome performance in my opinion.
6. I hope some of this makes sense and captures a proper response to the original question. If I can provide any other information from my research over the years, I would be honored to attempt to do if requested.
7. I am French (and South Vietnamese) para qualified. My French wings I buried at D10 in the valley of DBP. I was proud to jump with both units and wear their wings when I was on active duty. I am not unbiased on my high estimation of the French Abn and the Vietnamese Abn Division.
My best to all,
Booth