1st Foreign Parachute Battalion

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 Foreign Legion
Type	Foreign Airborne 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

Each year, the French Foreign Legion commemorates and celebrates Camarón in its headquarters in Aubagne and Bastille Day military parade in Paris; featuring the Pionniers leading and opening the way.

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

Creation and different nomination designations

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 scarifices 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]

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] Reconsituted 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 Batallion 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.

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  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

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  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 -

Notable Officers and Legionnaires

• Rémy Raffalli

See also

• Paul Arnaud de Foïard
• Airborne Units of France
• 25th Parachute Division
• 11th Parachute Brigade
• 10th Parachute Division
• 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment
• 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment
• 3rd Foreign Parachute Regiment
• 3rd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment

References

Foreign Legion Command French Foreign Legion
Honneur et Fidélité History of the French Foreign Legion Foreign Legion Pioneers (Pionniers) List of French paratrooper units Képi Blanc (publication)
Current Foreign Legion Units	Administrative Communal Depot of the Foreign Regiments 1st Foreign Regiment Foreign Legion Command Foreign Legion Recruiting Group Infantry & Parachute Infantry 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment 13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte Cavalry 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment Engineer & Parachute Engineer 6th Foreign Engineer Regiment 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment Training 4th Foreign Regiment Jungle Training Center Combat Training Center at Arta Beach
Defunct Foreign Legion Units	Administrative and Training Communal Depot of the Foreign Regiments Parachute Parachute Company of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion 3rd Foreign Parachute Battalion Foreign Air Supply Company 3rd Foreign Parachute Regiment 1st Foreign Parachute Heavy Mortar Company Infantry 1st Foreign Infantry Regiment 1st Marching Regiment of the 1st Foreign Regiment 2nd Marching Regiment of the 1st Foreign Regiment 3rd Marching Regiment of the 1st Foreign Regiment 4th Marching Regiment of the 1st Foreign Regiment/Garibaldi Legion 1st Marching Regiment of the 2nd Foreign Regiment 2nd Marching Regiment of the 2nd Foreign Regiment Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion 5th Foreign Infantry Regiment 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment 11th Foreign Infantry Regiment 12th Foreign Infantry Regiment 21st Marching Regiment of Foreign Volunteers 22nd Marching Regiment of Foreign Volunteers 23rd Marching Regiment of Foreign Volunteers Cavalry 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment 97th Reconnaissance Group of the Infantry Division Transport Armored Train of the Foreign Legion Disciplinary Disciplinary Company of the Foreign Regiments in the Far East Foreign Legion Brigades 31st Brigade (France)