Pierre Jeanpierre


Pierre Paul Jeanpierre was a senior officer of the French Foreign Legion.
He initially served in the French Army and fought during World War II, the First Indochina War, the Suez Crisis and the Algerian War, where he was killed in action. Apart from a short time spent in the French resistance and as a deportee during World War II, he served with the Foreign Legion from 1936. Jeanpierre commanded the 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion, expanded into the 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment until his death during the Algerian War.

Early life

Pierre was born in 1912 at Belfort. His father was an active duty career officer and captain in the 42nd Infantry Regiment, killed during World War I in 1916 at Marne without ever seeing his family since the outbreak of the war in August 1914. Pierre was raised by the paternal sight of his mother and enlisted in the infantry at barely 18 years of age.

Military career

Prior to World War II

Pierre enlisted in the 131st Infantry Regiment as a soldier in 1930 and worked being seconded from the enlisted corps by passing by all the non-commissioned ranks, graduating second from the Infantry and Tank School of Saint-Maixent as a Second-Lieutenant on October 1, 1936. Pierre's accomplished graduation ranking allowed him to choose the French Foreign Legion's 1st Foreign Regiment, making a Legion Lieutenant on October 1, 1938.

World War II

Phoney War & Battle of France

Pierre endured the Phoney War "Drôle de Guerre" and was put at disposition. He was also deeply marked by the defeat of 1940.

Syria–Lebanon Campaign

During World War II, Pierre also served with distinction in the Syria–Lebanon Campaign 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment, deployed in 1939 to the French Levant and took part in Mediterranean operations in 1940 at the corps formation of the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment, part of the Foreign Legion Group. Following combats in the Syria–Lebanon Campaign which he did not partake in confronting other French contingents, Pierre refused to join the Free French Forces from the principle of sticking with his idea of a Tricolour Flag.

Resistance and deportation

Pierre joined instead the French Resistance under the alias "Jardin" and integrated the ranks of the movement Ceux de la Libération; recruiting and arming over 60 volunteers;. Pierre was arrested at Orléans on January 19, 1944 and was deported to as a prisoner interred in the Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp after passing by the grouping camp of de Compiègne. With forced labor, Pierre would be among only 2 survivors out 45 in his stalag when the camp was liberated by the Allies on May 5, 1945. Liberated and healed, Pierre was nominated as a Captain at the center of recruitment of the Legion in Kehl. In July 1948, learning that in Algeria would be created a foreign parachute battalion, he volunteered, rejoined Sidi Bel Abbès then Philippeville where he was brevetted as a legion paratrooper. 3 month later, the battalion was in the high region of Indochina.

Indochina

1er Bataillon Etranger de Parachutiste, 1er BEP - I,II,III Formations -
Pierre sailed to Indochina as second-in-command to Pierre Segrétain in the of the 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion in 1948. During the evacuation of RC 4, route de sang, he and the battalion jumped over That Khe in a traditional Foreign Legion battlefield while facing an enemy 20 times superior in numbers. Jeanpierre, owing to his energy, his savoir-faire around the terrain and his qualities of a combatant chief, managed to repel waves of incessant hellish ambushes by inheriting over much of the leadership of the battalion after Segrétain was killed leading the battalion. On October 1950, tasked with taking Dong Khé during the disaster of Cao Bang, the mission was to save column "Charton" which was unfolding. Hardly short of audacity, he held the line until the last, divided the survivors into small groups and reled the charge of 23 legionnaires, 3 sous-officiers, 2 officers to That Khé where a French garrison should still hold standing. From the hundreds of legionnaires that constituted the 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion, only 12 men remained almost capable still. Commandant Segrétain was killed during combat at arms and Lieutenant Faulque fell pierced with projectiles, none of which were mortal. Seriously wounded, he was made prisoner and liberated 4 years later; he would be part of the troop of the living-dead which the Viet Minh would give back to France. the 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion with the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment were annihilated in Coxa. Following, Pierre rejoined the Legion in Mascara where he retook his passion, the instruction and forming of les jeunes legionnaires. The 1er BEP was recreated ; however, the last combats in Indochina would take place without his leadership. A Para legionnaire's legionnaire, Pierre returned to Indochina to command the of the reconstituted 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion after its second annihilation at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu. Reconstituted in a on May 19, 1954; Pierre took command of the 3rd reconstituted 1e BEP on November 1, 1954, the same day in which the Algerian War commenced. The 1er BEP left Indochina on February 8, 1955. The 1er BEP totaled 5 citations at the orders of the armed forces and the fourragère of the colors of the Médaille militaire. The 1er BEP became the 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment in Algeria on September 1, 1955.

Suez Crisis

After the 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion 1e BEP became the 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment 1e REP, Pierre was passed over for command on February 6, 1956, instead serving as second-in-command, this time to Colonel Albert Brothier which he assumed but was deeply disappointed. The regiment was put on alert on August 1, 1956 after the preparation of the campaign in Egypt; Pierre embarked on October 31, however, his views and reservations of this disembarking were well known. This beautiful instrument of combat which became a regiment didn't serve any worthy cause. Nevertheless, a new mission was confined to Pierre: in Algeria, put an end to this urbain terrorism, a police mission which no one wants or likes but must be executed successfully. Pierre retook command of the 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment in March, 1957.

Algeria

1er Regiment Etranger de Parachutiste, 1er REP

Pierre reassumed command as the regimental commander following the leave of Colonel Brothier at command headquarters of the 10th Parachute Division commanded by Brigadier General Jacques Massu. Partnering operations with Pierre, was the 9th Parachute Chasseur Regiment 9ème RCP commanded by regimental commander colonel Buchond. This new mission was complicated and implied certain techniques of clandestine counter-insurgency operations, which legion officers and a couple of legion sous-officiers authorized to accomplish this difficult task. Leading closely details of operations to his usual requirements, Pierre was caught in a grenade blast that affected his legs and ability to lead his para air assaults. Nevertheless, and hardly ever short of committing usual leadership, Pierre lead and carried on despite always for his legionnaires.
The 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment 1e REP won fame and success for security operations against terrorism led by Pierre in Algeria; however, this regimental commander wanted to pursue operations in the mountains. As he led the regiment throughout the summer of 1957, his legs slowed him down and he started to experience difficulties in walking. Consequently, this para legend of legionnaires adopted helicopters which would allow him to be present anywhere while surveilling all operations and leading assaults from the ground. His stationary code radio name was " Soleil". Pierre now became a master of helicopter operations.
On January 19, 1958, the 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment 1er REP left the Sahara after defeating the terrorist groups which wanted to compromise the security routes of oil convoys. The master of helicopter operations is morally apt and professional. Following the petrol route in the Sahara, combat operations engaged the regiment non-stop in the region of Guelma. Pierre lead para assaults from the air then ground and his legionnaires followed. On January 24, 75 rebels were put outside their combat element by stripping them 6 heavy machine guns. Until March 1 and during 3 months, 1300 arms out of which 120 automatic machine guns were stripped from militants which lost their presence in the region of Guelma, that is some 600 unarmed terrorists.
Pierre unfortunately, had at his command not only his regiment but also support units and troop unit sectors that could be available for him. At his disposition were several helicopters out which one <>. Pierre was all over the air, he permanently hovered above his companies. Launching his ideas, Pierre perfectly applied putting into motion various tactics resulting in; night operations, fire artillery support, heavy helicopter transport, aerial observations and aerial bombardments.
Pierre privileged intelligence, speed and surprise to apprehend an adversary with no escape. Pierre's most difficult idea: launch the assault by close range corps-a-corps combat, the essential role of the infantry and choc troops. Pierre Paul Jeanpierre lead the usual example in the field amongst his legionnaires and also slept sitting on the terrain, retaking habits adopted in Indochina. On May 13, 1958, Pierre was found conducting and focusing on tasked operations while events stir up in Algeria, he considered his mission unchanged. Accordingly, the regiment made way towards the mountains and canyons; one more operation to reduce militants and terrorist activity in the zones of operations. While providing mobile leadership from the air followed by ground assaults, recon intel and direction to his combat companies of legionnaires from the "Alouette" in which he was hovering on top close a little mountain; a shot strikes Jeanpierre against the pilot. Shortly immediately after, Captain Ysquierdo takes the radio post:" Soleil est mort, the Sun is Dead ". The legendary Para Legionnaire leading; fell to the enemy on May 28, 1958 and following along their commander also, Legion officers and a couple of hundred legionnaires.

Citations

This war chief "chef de guerre", a veteran of numerous conflicts, was feared in reason of his hard, harsh and demanding requirements in combat, sometimes passing the status of operations before the life of his legionnaires. Nevertheless, his legionnaires admired him since he always trained them, led and never asked them to conduct an act in which he would not lead the example first; the essence and corps of a Legion Officer's conduct becoming and leading even from the air followed by ground assaults. Legionnaires mainly and legion officers under his tasked orders and training, commanded a great deal of loyalty to Pierre.
His portrait is exposed amongst the most prestigious officers in the Legion in the honorary La Salle d'Honneur in the French Foreign Legion Museum at Aubagne.
In the annex of the report of the battle of the frontiers reserved exclusively for, regimental commander Colonel Buchond insists on:
<< the work of a single Commandant assisted by only one Captain and who only in one day mounts 4 para combat operations each time mounting at least a dozen of para combat companies, assists to 3 briefings in three different places, ensures the air sortie of 8 para air assaults, conducts 3 to 4 hours of flying in Alouette, moves his command post 3 times>>...
cited
<< this company Commandant is placed the 28th of April at 1000 by helicopter only 200 meters from the rebels, demolishes an entire section, brings back 3 automatic arms, is found engaged at 1800, embarked in vehicles at night, hits the road for 4 hours, is found at midnight at 20 km from there, engaged in combat till the morning, repacked at 0800, is engaged again at 1200 noon time after 4 hours truck drives, flown by helicopter at 1500 and is found 20 km from combat engaging two companies of rebels...>>
The author André Maurois rendered hommage and tribute with a couple of words :
"Un héros au cœur généreux et au caractère détestable, une assez bonne combinaison pour un chef "
<< a hero with a generous heart and a detestable character, a fairly good combination for a chief >>

Funeral

The funeral of Pierre Paul Jeanpierre was the equivalent of a State Funeral with several honorific commemorative ceremonies. On the 31st of May; Gelma and its more than 10,000 Muslim inhabitants rendered a huge and grandiose hommage to Colonel Jeanpierre. From January to May, the legionnaires had lost 110 men, Jeanpierre was their 3rd. In 1959, the grande place of Zeralda, the garrison of the 1er REP and the chapel bore his name. All; local, foreign, senior French military and civilian authorities, specially, Para commanders, other military commanders, came all the way from France and elsewhere to pay their respects.

Honours and awards

This soldier of Legend was injured twice in battle and is cited 9 times out of which 6 are at the orders of the armed forces, and several other awards not including:
  • Grand Officer of the Légion d'honneur
  • Croix de guerre 1939-1945
  • Croix de guerre des Théatres d'Opérations Exterieures
  • Croix de la Valeur Militaire
  • Médaille de la Résistance avec rosette
  • Médaille coloniale
  • Médaille commémorative de la campagne d'Indochine
  • Médaille commémorative des opérations de sécurité et de maintien de l'ordre en Afrique du Nord

    Legacy

Posthumous homages

École militaire interarmes ESM

The 146th promotion of the École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr chose the promotion Lieutenant-Colonel Jeanpierre. The song of the promotion recalls the arms celebration of lieutenant-colonel Jeanpierre.

Homages

  • The garrison and camp of the 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment carried his name in 1959.
  • The grande place and chapel of Zéralda bears his hame in 1959.
  • The "stage" 001 of academy officers of reserve in the Cherchell military academy bears his name.
  • One of the Corniche prep classes of the Corniche Lyautey bears his name.
  • A promotion EOR Infantry of St Cyr Coetquidan bears his name.
  • A square in Nice bears his name in which a commemorative plaque has been erected.
  • An avenue in Cagnes-sur-Mer and the Le Cannet bears his name.
  • A roundabout in Aix-en-Provence bears his name.
  • A road in Guelma, Algeria bears his name.
  • A road in Nevers bears his name.
  • A road in Belfort bears his name.