Bernard Goupil (1925 – 2013) was a

Général de division Divisional general is a general officer rank who commands an army division. The rank originates from the French (Revolutionary) System, and is used by a number of countries. The rank is above a brigade general, and normally below an army corps ...

of the

French Army The French Army, officially known as the Land Army (french: Armée de Terre, ), is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces. It is responsible to the Government of France, along with the other components of the Armed Force ...

and

Commandant Commandant ( or ) is a title often given to the officer in charge of a military (or other uniformed service) training establishment or academy. This usage is common in English-speaking nations. In some countries it may be a military or police ran ...

of the Foreign Legion.

Military career

On October 1, 1946, he was admitted to the selection entry of Saint-Cyr and subscribed an engagement at the title of the EMIA and joined the 152nd Infantry Battalion (french: 152^e Bataillon d’Infanterie, 15^e BI) at Mutzig in quality of an instructor candidate. He was promoted to Caporal-chef (Senior

Corporal Corporal is a military rank in use in some form by many militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. The word is derived from the medieval Italian phrase ("head of a body"). The rank is usually the lowest ranking non- ...

) on February 6, 1947, date in which he joined the 31st Chasseur Battalion à Pied (french: 31^e Bataillon de Chasseurs à Pied, 31^e BCP). He was promoted to the rank of Sergent ( Sergeant) on May 1, and on the 8, he passed to the 4th Chasseur Battalion à Pied (french: 4^e Bataillon de Chasseurs à Pied, 4^e BCP) where he followed the 9th course series of the ESMIA. On April 16, 1948, he passed to the 29th Chasseur Battalion à Pied (french: 29^e Bataillon de Chasseurs à Pied, 29^e BCP) at Coulommiers, however, remained attached to the ESMIA. He integrated the promotion of «

Général is the French word for general. There are two main categories of generals: the general officers (), which are the highest-ranking commanding officers in the armed forces, and the specialist officers with flag rank (), which are high-level office ...

Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque Philippe François Marie Leclerc de Hauteclocque (22 November 1902 – 28 November 1947) was a Free-French general during the Second World War. He became Marshal of France posthumously in 1952, and is known in France simply as le maréchal ...

» (1946–1948) on June 1, the rejoined the EAI at Auvours, on October 1. He was promoted to the rank of

Sous-lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank. Australia The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until 19 ...

before heading to Coetquidan on October 31. He was detached to the 4th Infantry Regiment from January 5 to February 5, 1949. After his leave in application, he was assigned to the 1st battalion of the 1st Foreign Infantry Regiment 1^e REI at Saida on June 18. Designated in reinforcement « Extrême-Orient », he disembarked at Saigon on April 19, 1950, to be assigned to the 14th company of the IV/ 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment 2^e REI. He passed to the 16th company on May 1. He was promoted accordingly to the rank of

Lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often ...

on October 1.

1950s

On January 22, 1951, he was assigned to the 3rd company of the marching battalion of the 1st Foreign Infantry Regiment 1^er REI. Thus unit became the 11th company of the III/1^er REI on March 1. During his ''séjour'', he combat engaged at Ben Tam, April 4 and 5 1951; at Vu Nong, on October 27 where was wounded twice by bullets; at Phu Yen, on January 14, 1952. He received 3 citations with attribution of the ''Croix de Guerre des Théâtres d’Opérations Extérieures'', with one at the orders of the armed forces. Towards the end of the deployment, he disembarked in Marseille and received an assignment at the regional administrative company for his tenure at the end of campaign deployment, in October 1952. He served then at the 1st Foreign Regiment 1^e RE in quality as a platoon chief of ''élève gradé'', from February 16, 1953. Again reassigned to the ''Extrême-Orient'', he disembarked at Saigon, on July 18, 1954, and rejoined the

3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment The 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment (french: 3e Régiment étranger d'infanterie, 3e REI) is an infantry regiment of the Foreign Legion in the French Army. The regiment is stationed in French Guiana. Its mission includes the protection of the Ce ...

3^e REI. Repatriated with his unit, he disembarked at Bône. He assumed command of the 8th company of the II/ 3^e REI stationed in the Aurès, on December 16. He was promoted to the rank of Captain in July 1956. On January 1, 1957, he became the chief of the 2nd bureau of the 1^er RE. Then in 1958, he integrated the general staff headquarters school (french: l’Ecole d’état-major) and conducted his qualification at Philippeville. Returned to the 1^e RE, he assumed the officer function of psychological action of urban sous-sector of Sidi bel Abbès, starting February 1, 1959. He was cited twice with attribution of the Croix de la Valeur militaire. On July 1, he was a selected candidate at the 20th promotion of the general staff headquarters (french: 20^e promotion de l’Ecole d’état-major).

1960s

On March 10, 1960, he was assigned to the command of the 2nd company of the 121st Infantry Regiment in Algeria. He was slightly wounded on October 14, 1960, in Grande Kabylie. He was cited at the orders of the armed forces for his decisive action. On May 8, 1961, he was assigned to the inter-arm bureau of the 11th Light Infantry Division (french: 11^e Division Légère d’Infanterie, 11^e DLI). The 11^e DLI rejoined the metropolis at Nancy. He was promoted to the rank of

Chef de bataillon Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...

(

- Major) on April 1, 1963. He was made chevalier of the Légion d’honneur on August 26, 1963, for exceptional war service in the Extrême-Orient (french: « Pour services exceptionnels de guerre en Extrême-Orient »). The 11th Light Infantry Division became the 11th Division of December 1. On April 6, 1965, he was assigned to the

2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment The 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (french: 2e Régiment étranger de parachutistes, 2e REP) is the only airborne regiment of the Foreign Legion in the French Army. It is one of the four infantry regiments of the 11th Parachute Brigade and part o ...

2^e REP at Bou Sfer, ion quality of instructor chief of the operation bureau. On August 1, 1967, he commanded the Qualification Group of Sous-Officiers (NCO) at the Infantry Application School (french: groupe de qualification des sous-officiers à l’Ecole d’application de l’infanterie) at Montpellier. He was promoted to the rank of

Lieutenant-colonel Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colo ...

on July 1, 1969. Nominated as chief of the cabinet of the commandant général of the 1st Army Corps (french: Chef de cabinet du général commandant le 1^er Corps d’Armée), he was assigned for administration at the 101st squadron of QG at Nancy on October 1.

Later life

On February 15, 1972, he assumed the functions of Chief cabinet of the Military Governor of Metz and Commandant of the 6^e RM. On August 8, 1972, he received the regimental command of the

2^e REP at Calvi. He was promoted to the rank of

Colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge o ...

on October 1, 1973. Following this command tenure, he became the Inspector General of general staff headquarters of the French Army (french: Chef d’état-major de l’inspection général de l’Armée de Terre) on August 12, 1974. He rejoined the 28th session at IHEDN and the 25th sessions of the CHEMM, on September 1, 1975, in quality of an auditor. On August 1, 1976, he was assigned to the 1st Foreign Regiment 1^e RE for administration and became the Commandant of the Foreign Legion Groupment on October 29.
Division General Commandant of the

French Foreign Legion The French Foreign Legion (french: Légion étrangère) is a corps of the French Army which comprises several specialties: infantry, Armoured Cavalry Arm, cavalry, Military engineering, engineers, Airborne forces, airborne troops. It was created ...

, Les Chefs COMLE He was nominated to the 1st section of officer generals on December 1, 1978. In October 1980, he rejoined the

EMAT Electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) is a transducer for non-contact acoustic wave generation and reception in conducting materials. Its effect is based on electromagnetic mechanisms, which do not need direct coupling with the surface of t ...

in quality of mission delegate near the Chief of Staff of the French Army CEMAT, then Chief of the Cabinet. On October 1, 1982, he was elevated to the dignity of

and received the functions of Governor of Marseille on January 16. He was admitted to the second section of officer generals, by reaching the age limit, on January 17, 1985.

Bernard Goupil died on April 3, 2013.

Honours and decorations

National honours

Military decorations

References

Sources

* Répertoire des chefs de corps * Centre de documentation de la Légion étrangère * Répertoire des citations (BCAAM) {{DEFAULTSORT:Goupil, Bernard French generals French military officers 1925 births 2013 deaths