The 1st Foreign Parachute Heavy Mortar Company () was an ephemeral airborne forces heavy mortar of the Foreign Legion which fought during the

First Indochina War The First Indochina War (generally known as the Indochina War in France, and as the Anti-French Resistance War in Vietnam, and alternatively internationally as the French-Indochina War) was fought between French Fourth Republic, France and Việ ...

at the corps of the French Far East Expeditionary Corps.

History

In August 1953, lieutenant Jacques Molinier serves in the 1st Vietnamese Parachute Battalion ( 1^er BPVN). Accordingly, he is tasked by the headquarters of

Hanoi Hanoi ( ; ; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Vietnam, second-most populous city of Vietnam. The name "Hanoi" translates to "inside the river" (Hanoi is bordered by the Red River (Asia), Red and Black River (Asia), Black Riv ...

to form a heavy mortar parachute combat company integrated in the

French Foreign Legion The French Foreign Legion (, also known simply as , "the Legion") is a corps of the French Army created to allow List of militaries that recruit foreigners, foreign nationals into French service. The Legion was founded in 1831 and today consis ...

and based in

Tonkin Tonkin, also spelled Tongkin, Tonquin or Tongking, is an exonym referring to the northern region of Vietnam. During the 17th and 18th centuries, this term referred to the domain '' Đàng Ngoài'' under Trịnh lords' control, including both the ...

. Created on 1 September 1953, based on elements, mainly artillery specialist of the 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion ( 1^er B.E.P) and 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion ( 2^e B.E.P); the created combat company is administratively attached to the 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion ( 1^er B.E.P). The rear base of the company is situated at Quynh Loï, South of Hanoï. The first operation launched by the 1st Foreign Parachute Heavy Mortar Company ( 1^re C.E.P.M.L) was to support of the 1st and 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalions. The company also made a combat jump alongside Chef de Battalion Marcel Bigeard's 6th Colonial Parachute Battalion. On 21 November 1953 Lieutenant Molinier jumped on

Dien Bien Phu Diethylenetriamine (abbreviated and also known as 2,2’-Iminodi(ethylamine)) is an organic compound with the formula HN(CH2CH2NH2)2. This colourless hygroscopic liquid is soluble in water and polar organic solvents, but not simple hydrocarbons. ...

with the first wave of

Operation Castor Operation Castor was a successful French Union's airborne operation in the First Indochina War. This operation of France and the State of Vietnam established a fortified airhead in Điện Biên Province against the communist Việt Minh, ...

, at the border Landing Zone (L.Z) Natacha. at 1500, 67 enlisted and officers, as well as 8 Brandt 120 mm mortars and 800 rounds of ammunition are dropped on the landing zone. At 1600, the company was in position to fire. This company is the first heavy 120 mm mortar unit to be dropped in an airborne operation. The 1st Foreign Parachute Heavy Mortar Company had packed the mortars in alvéoles type compartments about 3 to 4 meters in diameter. Following the drop, the company received another drop of a supplementary 4 120 mm mortars to make the total count of 12 120 mm mortars available with 99 officers, warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and legionnaires. On 12 March 1954 Lieutenant Molinier was wounded during a recon operation conducted with the 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion 1^er BEP on “Béatrice”. Wounded by a dozen of pieces of shrapnel in the back and face, he is carried to the underground hospital of commandant-doctor Paul-Henri Grauwin, who had him evacuated by plane to Hanoi. For the officer, the

Battle of Dien Bien Phu The Battle of Điện Biên Phủ was a climactic confrontation of the First Indochina War that took place between 13 March and 7 May 1954. It was fought between the forces of the French Union and Viet Minh. The French began an operation to in ...

is over. Molinier passes command of the company to Lieutenant Paul Turcy who is killed on 14 March 1954. Accordingly, Lieutenant

Erwan Bergot Erwan Bergot (27 January 19301 May 1993) was a French Army officer and author; he served in the French Army during the First Indochina War and Algerian War. Biography Born to a Breton family in Bordeaux, Erwan Bergot volunteered to serve in In ...

assumes interim command of the company until the parachute support of Lieutenant Jean Singland. On 7 May 1954 the final assault commenced and the

fired their mortars in all directions during the defence. On 1 June the 1st Foreign Parachute Heavy Mortar Company was dissolved. In its eight-month existence, the company fired more than 30,000 rounds and endured heavy losses: 24 killed, 43 wounded. At the liberation of the prisoners from the Viet-minh camps, only 17 had survived. Following the dissolution of the company, Lieutenant Molinier assumed command of the Command and Support Company (C.C.S) of the 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion ( 1^er B.E.P).

Organization

Traditions

File:Brevet Parachutiste.jpg, French parachute brevet.

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 Archangels () are the second lowest rank of angel in the Catholic hierarchy of angels, based on and put forward by Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite in the 5th or 6th century in his book ''De Coelesti Hierarchia'' (''On the Celestial Hierarchy'') ...

which according to

Liturgy Liturgy is the customary public ritual of worship performed by a religious group. As a religious phenomenon, liturgy represents a communal response to and participation in the sacred through activities reflecting praise, thanksgiving, remembra ...

is the "Armed Arm of God". This Insignia is the symbol of righteous combat and fidelity to superior missions. File:Insigne1erBEP.jpg, 1^er B.E.P Insignia File:Insigne 1°CEPML.jpg, 1^re C.E.P.M.L File:1° BPVN.jpg, 1st Vietnamese Parachute Battalion Insignia Image:Cie_para_3REI.JPG, File:2rep.jpg, 2^e B.E.P and 2^e R.E.P Insignia Colonel Arnaud de Foiard

Company Colors

Company Song

Decorations

Honours

Battle honours

Company Commander

* 1953 - 1954 : Lieutenant Molinier * 1954 - 1954 : Lieutenant Turcy * 1954 - 1954 : Lieutenant

* 1954 - 1954 : Lieutenant Singland

Notable Officers and Legionnaires

References

* Braby, Wayne & Windrow, Martin. ''French Foreign Legion Paratroops.'' London: Osprey Publishing, 1985. * Collectif, ''Histoire des parachutistes français'', Société de Production Littéraire, 1975. * Jean Brunon et Georges Manue, ''Le livre d’or de la Légion étrangère (1831-1955)'', éditions Charles Lavauzelle et Cie, 1958. * Pierre Montagnon, ''Les parachutistes de la Légion 1948-1962'', éditions Pygmalion, 2005, . {{DEFAULTSORT:Foreign Parachute Heavy Mortar Company, 1st Airborne units and formations of France Military units and formations established in 1953 Military units and formations disestablished in 1954 Parachute Heavy Mortar Company, 1st Foreign