WELCOME TO GOLDSMITHWORKS EBAY
STOREFRONT. GOLDSMITHWORKS AND MILITARY WATCH BOX, WITH A BEAUTIFUL STUDIO AND GALLERY
LOCATED IN SUWANEE GA ARE STATE LICENSED PRECIOUS METAL DEALERS, JEWELERS,
GOLDSMITH AND WATCHMAKERS, AND ARE IN$URED THROUGH JEWELERS MUTUAL. WE ARE A MEMBER OF
JEWELERS OF AMERICA, THE SOCIETY OF NORTH AMERICAN GOLDSMITHS,POLYGON, THE DIAMOND
NETWORK AND HOLD A MEMBERSHIP IN THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WATCH AND CLOCK COLLECTORS.
OUR TOLL FREE NUMBER IS 800-438-6894 sk For Rock
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IN
ORDER TO INSURE YOU RECEIVE YOUR TIME PIECE IN THE BEST ORDER, ALONG
WITH A WARRANTY AND APPRAISAL, WE TEST EVERY WATCH ONE FOR 12 TO 24 HRS BEFORE
WE SHIP. A WATCH MAY HAVE BEEN SITTING A WHILE, SO ADJUSTMENTS MAY BE REQUIRED. WE
THEN SHIP DOUBLE BOXED, INSURED, SIGNATURE, TWO DAY UPS AIR.
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IT WILL TAKE SOME TIME
TO READ THIS OFFER
IT TOOK ME 37 HOURS & 2 1/2 YEARS
TO PUT IT ALL TOGETHER
**********************
READY TO WEAR
RESTORED & OVERHAULED
VINTAGE
TRI-COLOR
FRENCH LANCET
PILOT JUMP WATCH
WITH
1945
15 JEWEL
SHOCK PROTECTED
SWEEP SECONDS HACK
MOVEMENT
AND
RESTORED & OVERHAULED
VINTAGE
1944-1954
FRENCH
LANCET
MILITARY POCKET WATCH
IN
LEATHER CASE
41.5 mm x 40.5 mm
with outer leather case
28.6 mm
without leather
WITH
15 JEWEL SWISS BAR SUB SECOND
MANUAL WIND MILITARY MOVEMENT
STORED
IN A
RARE
&
AWESOME
FRENCH INDOCHINA
DIEN BIEN PHU
MILITARY WATCH BOX
CONTAINING
A COLLECTION OF
FOREIGN LEGION
FRENCH PARATROOPER
&
1945 - 1954
FRENCH
INDOCHINA
MILITARY
MEMORABILIA
AND
FRAMED 1902 COLOR MAP
OF FRENCH INDOCHINA
WITH
ONLINE PROFESSIONAL APPRAISAL
TO INSURE YOUR INVESTMENT
[ONE APPRAISAL WITH
A) MWB BOX & B) WATCH PRICING]
WITH
THE COMPLETE HISTORY
AS TOLD WITHIN THIS OFFER
AND
A 1 YEAR LIMITED WATCH WARRANTY USA 2 DAY INSURED AIR DELIVERY 65.00
INTERNATIONAL SUPER FAST FEDEX 140.00
*******************************************
FREE
800 438 6894 TOLL FREE SUPPORT
INTERNATIONAL +17708311257
M-SAT 11AM - 7 PM EST
******************************************
THE
FRENCH
AFTER THEIR DEFEAT
IN WWII
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Free French Cross of
Lorraine |
Flag of France |
Kingdom of France |
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Free French Adrian
Helmet |
Free French Naval |
1939-1940 French
Republic |
FREE FRENCH WWII
France and the United Kingdom were
the first to declare war after Germany invaded Poland in 1939. In a lightening, successful
campaign in the Low Countries and, in the Battle of France, Germany inflicted defeat on
the Allied forces.
France surrendered in June of
1940 and formed a collaborating government -- headed by Pétain -- titled "The
French State" and known as the Vichy government.
Right after the French Goververment
surrender,Pétain went on French National Radio to appeal to units still battling the
Germans to obey him and "cease the fight".
Within days of Pétain's speech,
Charles de Gaulle, a French officer who would became a Brigadier General in WWII and then
French President after the war, gave what would become a historical speech to the French
people on BBC Radio. De Gaulle focused on bolstering French pride by informing his fellow
citizens that "France has lost a battle, but France has not lost the war". And
then, from England, he formed both the Free
France Government (La France Libre)
and the Free French Forces and began to recruit French Citizens and Soldiers to fight,
to start the underground in France and to bolster support of French Colonies .
But it was Capitaine de corvette Thierry d'Argenlieu who suggested the adoption of the Cross of Lorraine as a symbol of the Free French, both to recall the perseverance of Joan of Arc, whose symbol it had been,
and as an answer to the Nazi swastika.
CEFEO
Corps Expéditionnaire Français en Extrême-Orient,
Georges Thierry d'Argenlieu was a priest, diplomat
French Navy officer and, eventually, an admiral in charge of French Colonial
Administration in Indochina. An interesting side note was that though d'Argenlieu had a
heroic resume and was an important co-founder and leader in the Free French Goverment
& Forces, after the defeat of Japan the French decided to regain Indochina,Thierry
d'Argenlieu was promoted to Vice Admiral and sent in 1946 to Indochina with the French far
East Expeditionary Corps [CEFEO] to restore French Colonial Administration. Once there, he was promoted to
Admiral, but by February 1947, he was recalled and replaced by Emile Bollaert due to
"conroversy".
*********************************
This "controversy" is an
important story herein as concerns this collection.
In June of 1946, on his own, D'Argenlieu
issued a proclamation establishing of a Republic of Cochin-China. At this time, Communist
Viet Minh leader Ho Chi Minh and Paris were getting ready for the Fontainebleau Conference
in which both sides were to discuss the future of Indochina. This caused the cancellation
of the conference and a loss of face to Ho Chi Minh.
D'Argenlieu not only released this
proclamation, traveled to Paris to convince Premier Georges Bidault of the need to
"teach the Vietnamese Nationalists a lesson." D'Argenlieu then cabled his
deputy in Saigon, General Jean-Etienne Valluy, who in turn ordered the French commissioner
in Tonkin [north Vietnam] General Morlière, " to use force in the north". The
result was that the French cruiser Suffren was ordered to shell Haiphong on November 23
1946 which led directly to the outbreak of the Indochina War on December 19, 1946.
*********************************
Back to the Free French. In his general
order in July 1940, Vice Admiral Émile Muselier, chief of the naval and air forces of the
Free French, created the bow flag displaying the French colors with a red cross of
Lorraine, and a cockade, which also featured the cross of Lorraine
The Free French forces included soldiers rescued
from Dunkirk as well as units of the Foreign Legion. *Free French Generals recruited
additional Free French forces from the French Colonial Empire. They chose French Nationals
& Natives from tropical African colonies. French Algeria and Moroco supplied men from
their native populations. Senegal in French West Africa provided conscripts. Even
Tahitians were recruited and served with distinction.
In fact, the battles fought during WWII in Italy
included *120,000 French Colonial Forces that made history and were, in many cases, the
major difference in the defeat of the Germans in Italy. 1/4 of the forces died or were
injured, 2000 went missing in action. .
[*Men who would eventually fight
& die in the jungles &
communist prison camps of Indochina]
With Allied success in the French Colonial
strong-hold of North Africa, the Free French troop strength grew. De Gaulle rallied
of the Army of Africa and pursued the fight against the Axis in multiple campaigns until
the Free French Forces would have the opportunity to participate in the invasion of Italy
and assist in the occupation of France and Germany.
On 23 October 1944, the United States, Britain and
the Soviet Union officially recognized De Gaulle's Free French as the provisional
government of France; which would become the Fourth Republic in 1946.
The French, both free and *collaborating, had
1,250,000 troops in 10 divisions when the war ended in May of 1945. During the course of
the war, French military losses totaled 212,000 dead, of which 92,000 were killed through
the end of the EUROPEAN campaign of 1940, 58,000 from 1940 to 1945 in other campaigns,
24,000 lost while serving in the French resistance, and a further *38,000 lost while
serving with the German Army.
When WWII ended, the French created an
expeditionary corps to "liberate" French Indochina from the Japanese.
*************************
THE WATCH
WE RESTORED 39 LANCETS --INCLUDING 4
OF THE RAREST PLANE SIGNED PILOTS/JUMP LANCET WATCHES W/SUB-SECONDS -- AND VARIOUS LANCET
TRENCH, CONVERSION AND POCKET (3) WATCHES IN THE LAST 3 YEARS.
SOME WERE ACQUIRED FROM VIETNAM, A
FEW FROM ALGERIA, ITALY, GREECE, FRANCE & TURKEY.
THE AVERAGE PLANE SIGNED JUMP WATCH
WITH SUB-SECONDS WENT FOR $1000.00 RESTORED WITH WARRANTY AND APPRAISAL.
.
ROCK'S SWEEPING LANCET
IT
TAKES MONTHS, SOMETIMES YEARS, TO FIND AND RESTORE THE ABOVE STYLE FRENCH (SWISS MADE)
1940/1950'S MILITARY LANCET WRIST WATCH. BUT IT IS ALWAYS THE CONDITION FOUND THAT MEANS
THE MOST.
THE
KEY ITEM IN THIS DIEN BIEN PHU MILITARY WATCH
BOX IS A 1951 "PLANE SIGNED" SWEEP
SECONDS LANCET PILOTS JUMP WATCH THAT WAS A PURCHASE FROM ALGERIA. IT HAS A RARE (SECOND
FOUND) VERSION (BASE WAS A 1945 SUB-SECONDS) ELECTION 645 WITH HACKED SWEEP SECOND HAND.
WHEN
I FIRST SAW THIS BEAUTY I REALIZED THAT THE DIAL WAS EXCELLENT FOR RESTORATION, AND,
THOUGH MOST COLOR WAS ABSENT OR FADED AND THE RADIUM NUMERALS WERE DEPLETED -- SHOWING
FAINT ORANGE COLOR -- THE BRIGHT RED PAINT ON THE SWEEP HAND & THE BLACK STEEL HAND
CONDITION, POINTED TO A WELL CARED FOR LANCET.
BUT
I HAD A PATRON INVEST IN THE SUB-SECONDS LANCET PILOT JUMP WATCH FROM THIS FRENCH MILITARY
WATCH BOX AND THOUGHT, WELL, I WOULD "RE-DO" THE BOX WITH A FEW MAJOR ADDITIONS
AND INCLUDE THIS WONDERFUL LANCET.
I
REMOVED THE BAYONET DUE TO INTERNATIONAL RESTRICTIONS & THE BINOCULARS DUE TO THE NEW
BOX SIZE AND AM ADDING MORE ITEMS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE BATTLE OF DIEN BIEN PHU. I AM
PASSIONATE ABOUT FRENCH INDOCHINA WAR HISTORY AND THE INDIVIDUAL BRAVERY AND SACRIFICE OF
THE SOLDIERS THROUGH OUT THE CONFLICT FROM 1946 THROUGH 1954, SO I PLAN TO ADD SOME MORE
AWESOME ITEMS. SO DO NOT BREEZE THROUGH THIS OFFER, READ IT!!
********************************************
LANCET
French
Pilots Jump Watch
THE FIRST OF 6 THAT
HAS SWEEPS SECONDS
YOU RECEIVE
BOTH
THE NYLON BALLISTIC
AND
LEATHER CUFF STYLE
THE DIAL HAS BEEN
RESTORED.
IT HAS THE ORIGINAL FRENCH COLORS
WITH
RE-ILLUMINATED RADIUM DIAL
AND
RE-ILLUMINATED
ORIGINAL STEEL HANDS
AND
RE-PAINTED
CENTER
*BUTTON STYLE
RED SWEEP SECONDS
(* NO TAIL)
RE-ILLUMINATED
WITH
AF-LUMINOVA
HIGH-PERFORMANCE
PHOSPHORESCENT PIGMENT
WE CHOSE TO KEEP
THIS LANCET
AS ORIGINAL AS POSSIBLE
THOUGH WE RESTORED THE DIAL
(LOOK AT THE FADED VERSION THEN THE RESTORED)
THE CASE WAS KEPT
ORIGINAL
MAIN CENTER CASE
WITH
WIRE & LUGS
IS STEEL
TOP CRYSTAL BEZEL IS BRASS WITH CHROME
CASE BACK IS STEEL
WE CHOSE AN 18MM G-18
NATO STYLE BALLISTIC NYLON
IN OLIVE COLOR FOR THE STEEL WIRE LUGS
BALLISTIC NYLON IS TWICE
THE THICKNESS
OF 90% OF ALL NATO STRAPS OFFERED ONLINE
THIS "STRAIGHT
THROUGH" STYLE
MILITARY STRAP
IS CLOSER TO WHAT WAS
ORIGINALLY UTILIZED
IT HAS THREE HD KEEPERS
IT WILL FIT UP TO SIZE
NINE
THE LANCET IS AWESOME
I HAVE WORN THIS BEAUTY A FEW TIMES
WHAT A RESPONSE!
THE MAIN STEEL CASE IS
POLISHED JUST ENOUGH
TO CLEAN IT UP AND OFFER A LOW LUSTER FINISH
THE BEZEL WAS HAND BUFFED WITH A CLOTH
WE COULD RE-PLATE
BUT THEN
THE WATCH WOULD LOOSE
THE LOOK & VALUE
HERE IS THE STANDARD LANCET
CASE STYLE
ALL FOUR WERE LIKE THIS
WIDE RING PROVIDES STABILITY FOR LARGE DIAL
WITH A LARGE DIAL
LARGE DIAL TABLE
10.5 MOVEMENT CENTER
YOU CAN SEE WE BUFFED
THE CENTER CASE
A SHOT OF OTHER SIDE
A SHOT OF STEEL CASE BACK
HERE SHE IS WITH REFINISHED
DIAL
BLUE WHITE RED
WITH
SILVER METALLIC RINGS
I WAS TEMPTED TO STRIP THE
BEZEL & CROWN & RE-PLATE
I HAVE HAD FOLK SAY
BY RESTORING THE DIAL IT LOSES VALUE
I SAY HOG WASH
A LANCET LIKE THIS IS TOO RARE
ONLY 4 OF THE SUB REGISTER STYLE HAVE SURFACED
ONLY 2 OF THE HACKED SWEEP SECONDS HAS BEEN FOUND
AND
ONLY 2 SMALLER 30MM VERSIONS HAVE BEEN FOUND
SO
FOR EVERY 1 PERSON WANTING
AN ORIGINAL WITH WORN DIAL
THERE ARE TEN
WHO WOULD RATHER HAVE THE RESTORED DIAL
OK, DO NOT ASK ME WHAT
UP!
I DID NOT EXPECT THAT
ANYTHING WAS IN/ON CASE BACK
MY CONTACT KNEW
I WOULD SPEND 350.00 FOR
THIS BABY AS IS
WITH OR WITHOUT ANY
"EXTRAS"
YET WHEN BLOWN UP LIKE ABOVE
THE ONCE NICELY FINISHED
STEEL CASE BACK
REVEALS A ROUGH
"INDO"
"CHINE"
"FREE FRENCH
CROSS OF LORRAINE"
"1953"
AND THEN YOU SEE A NEAR
SUCCESSFUL
ATTEMPT TO COMPLETELY
GRIND THE CROSS OUT
(ALGERIAN RELIGION MAYBE?)
THE LANCET WAS MADE UTILIZING CASES
AND PARTS FROM VARIOUS WATCH COMPANIES. TRENCH VERSIONS HAD 10 MOVEMENT AND CASE BRANDS.
THE FIRST STANDARD MODERN (THE BLACK DIALED VERSION AT TOP WITH LUGS) LANCET WATCH HAD AS
MOVEMENTS. THERE WERE FOUR WITH ELECTION MOVEMENTS. THE BASE 465 FOUND IN JUMP WATCHES WITH SUB-SECONDS IS AN ELECTION VERSION
MADE IN 1945 WITH 15 JEWELS AND A UNIQUE CAP JEWEL SPRING WHICH OPERATED AS A SHOCK
SYSTEM. THIS VERSION HAS
A HACKED SWEEP SWEEP SECONDS HAND. THE MOVEMENT HAS SMALL WRITING LIKE
"UNADJUSTED" "FIFTEEN" AND IT IS TAGGED 645S WHICH WOULD BE A 645 WITH
SWEEPS SECONDS, HENCE THE "S". THE CASE STYLE AND SIZE FOR THE LARGE 1950 LANCET
--32.90 X 37 MM W/O CROWN-- WITH SCREW DOWN 10.5''/23.35mm MOVEMENT, HAS BEEN THE STANDARD
WITH ALL JUMP WATCHES.
WHAT DOES HACKED SWEEP
SECONDS MEAN UNLIKE HACKING WATCH THAT MEANS WATCH STOPS RUNNING WHEN CROWN IS PULLED
Prior to WWII, most watches had a
sub-second register above the #6 position. By 1942, the sweep second hand watch had became
the only watch to have. The two most important reasons were the fact that sweep seconds
had become a must. The Government issued U.S.A. A-11pilots watch and the need for
sweep seconds watches for Doctors, Medics and Nurses and other professionals, simply
caused a rush to adapt watch makers sub seconds to sweeps. Rather than create new
movements, watch companies simply re-tooled their existing stock piles of movements. They
placed a hollow canon pinion that allowed a wheeled center shaft to protrude through the
dial, mounted a second hand to it, and ran the combo with a few wheels from the very
sub-seconds wheel they were eliminating..
gsw/mwb/gsww archive photo
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FRENCH INDOCHINA 1ST VIETNAM WAR BERET
******************************************
TD 2 ND - 2nd Airborne Special Forces (BN) *******************************************************
Indochina
IndoChine
France began its conquest of Indochina in
the late 1850s. It would take years to complete the
pacification of the Vietnamese, Laos and Cambodian People. In 1883 "The Treaty
of Hu" formed the foundation for French colonial rule in Vietnam. In spite of
military resistance, such as the Can Vuong of Phan Dinh Phung, and the Viet Nam Quoc Dan
Dang, the area of the current-day nations of Vietnam Cambodia, and LAOS were made into the
colony of French Indochina.
1940-1945
45 years later, in September of 1940, during the
second Sino-Japanese war, the Japanese seized Indochina. Though the Collaborating French
government had signed an agreement with Japan allowing the stationing of troops and other
concessions, the Japanese attacked French positions and made landings and assumed
control by force. The Japanese allowed the French to "run things" for
nearly 4 years until news of a possible invasion of Indochina as the war wound down caused
the Japanese to lock the French up. At the same time, the "Viet Minh", a
communist organization founded in 1941 and funded by the Chinese Nationalist Party and the
U.S in their fight against Japanese occupation of Vietnam, had grown into a small yet
powerful force trained at and in guerrilla warfare tactics.
1946-1954
During the First Indochina War
(1946–54), the Legion saw its numbers swell due to the incorporation of Second World
War veterans who couldn't adapt to civilian life. Even so, although the Legion
distinguished itself, it also took a heavy toll during the war: constantly being deployed
in operations, it even reached the point that whole units were annihilated in combat, in
what was a traditional Legion battlefield. Units of the Legion were also involved in the
defense of Dien Bien Phu and lost a large number of men in the battle.
THE BATTLE BEGINS
During the French Indochina War
(1945–1954), French forces attempted to re-establish colonial control of Vietnam,
while the "Viet Minh" forces led by Ho Chi Minh fought for independence.
Initially, the Viet Minh, were unsuccessful in dealing with the better trained and
equipped French forces. Their situation improved in 1949 after the Chinese Communist army
of Mao Zedong defeated the Nationalist army led by Chiang Kai-Shek. This gave the
communist Viet Minh a safe haven for organization and training, as well as an initially
sympathetic ally to provide them with arms and logistical support.
Vo Nguyen Giap, the military leader of the Viet Minh, launched an offensive against the
French in early 1950. From February to April, his operation Le Hong Phong I raged through
the Red River Valley, largely giving the Viet Minh control of northwestern Tonkin, near
the Chinese border. The area became a Viet Minh stronghold, except for the RC4 highway.
On 25 May, 2,500 Viet Minh troops overwhelmed the French fortress at Dong Khé, which lay
at the strategic center of RC4, thus cutting the supply line between the French positions
at Cao Bang and Lang Son. French parachutists retook Dong Khé on the evening of 27 May
and a company of Legionnaires took charge of the fort.
Though the French won the first
battle of the RC4 on 9 October 1947, the second was another story:
Route Coloniale 4 (RC4, also known as
Highway 4) is a road in Vietnam, bordering the Chinese border from Hanoi to Cao Bang. The
Battle of Route Coloniale 4 lasted from 30 September to 18 October 1950. Several units of
the French army, including some battalions of the Foreign Legion, were decimated by the
Viet Minh and essentially ceased to exist as fighting units.
****************************************************
WE ADDED ANOTHER FRENCH LANCET
FROM INDOCHINA DATING 1945 -1955
RESTORED & OVERHAULED
VINTAGE
1944-1954
FRENCH
LANCET
MILITARY POCKET WATCH
IN
LEATHER CASE
41.5 mm x 40.5 mm
with outer leather case
28.6 mm
without leather
AND
15 JEWEL SWISS BAR SUB SECOND
MANUAL WIND MILITARY MOVEMENT
NEAR MINT CONDITION DETAILED
LEATHER ON OUTER CASE
RED 24HR SILVER # 9 12 3
- RECTANGULAR - HOUR MARKERS
FRONT AND REAR CRYSTALS WERE CELLULOID
CHANGED TO MODERN PLASTIC
A SHOT OF MARKERS.SHOW ORIGINAL SILVER
I AM GLAD I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST IN THIS
1945 TO 1955 LANCET
IT IS AMAZING CLEANED & RESTORED
NOTE THE EDGES
NOTE THE EDGES
NOTE THE EDGES
SHE RUNS & LOOKS GREAT
JUST A FEW MARS ON THE DIAL
THE BLACK STEEL HANDS ARE ORIGINAL
EXCELLENT CONDITION WITH NEW OLD STOCK PLASTIC
CRYSTALS
HERE YOU CAN SEE THE DIAL IS FANTASTIC
I HAVE RESEARCHED THE EGG LOGO WITH 34 IN THE TOP
AND AN "R" IN
THE BOTTOM WITH NO LUCK IF YOU COME UP WITH SOMETHING LET US KNOW
R
THIS MOVEMENT IS AWESOME
SWISS MADE
15 JEWELS
GOLD JEWEL SETTINGS
SWISS DETAILING
SWISS BARS
WITH
NUMBER 34
ON MAIN BRIDGE
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A SUPER
EXTRAORDINARY
TIME PIECE
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CONDITION WATCH:
EXCELLENT - RUNS EXCELLENT
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Paratroops
of the Légion Étrangère
1st Foreign
Legion Parachute Regiment
1st Foreign Legion Parachute Regiment was
born on 1 July 1948 and embarked on the "Shepherd" October 24 1948 at Mers
El-Kebir and arrived in Indochina in Haiphong on November 12 1948 . Though the
regiment was stationed throughout the Indochina War Theater, the main battles will take
place in Tonkin (Northern Vietnam).
On the 17 and 18 of September 1950, the battalion jumped at
That Khe to rescue French forces in Cao Bang (Battle of RC4)
and was almost destroyed during
the fighting taking place around Khe Dong and was dissolved on December 31.
Its losses included 21 officers, 46 NCOs and
420 legionaries whose commanding officer was the battalion
commander Segrétain. Only a few survivors managed to reach the French lines, including
the captain Jeanpierre, who would later, in Algeria, become the commanding officer of the
1st REP.
1st BEP
1st BEP was recreated 18 March 1951 from the remainder of the original battalion,
along with reinforcements from the 2nd BEP and North Africa. The BEP then comprised 3
companies (CCB, 1st and 2nd Company) and Cipla (company Indochinese Foreign Legion
paratrooper company-4e). A third company will be incorporated in November 1952.
1st CEPML
On 1 September 1953 the 1st foreign company
paratrooper heavy mortar (1st CEPML) was created from elements of the 1st and 2nd SEN.
This unit was attached to the 1st BEP.
1st BEP was again annihilated on May 7, 1954 at the Battle of
Dien Bien Phu: there were 316
killed at the end of fighting (not counting the prisoners who never returned from
captivity).
The 2nd REP remains the only FRENCH Foreign Regiment of paratroopers.
1er REP
The 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment (French: 1er Régiment Étranger de Parachutistes, 1er
REP) was a Foreign Legion airborne unit of the French Army. It fought in the First
Indochina War, Suez Crisis and Algerian War, but was
disbanded after taking part in a putsch against the French government in 1961
* First Indochina War
*Battle of Route Coloniale 4
*Battle of Hoa Binh
*Operation Lorraine
*Battle of Na San
*Operation Castor
*Battle of Dien Bien Phu
*Algerian War
*Suez Crisis
Decorations
* Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures with 5 palms
* Cameróne 1863[1]
* Indochine 1949-1954
* AFN 1952-1962
************************************
BEAUTIFUL FRENCH
OPINEL SIZE 9
FRUIT WOOD HANDLED VIROBLOC FOLDING KNIFE
COCHIN CHINA
1953/54
ISABELLE
2ND REP PARAS
VICTOIRE
1954 HONORER
The Opinel is a brand of simple, wooden-handled pocket-knifes manufactured
since 1890 in the town of Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne in the Savoie region of France. Invented
by Joseph Opinel in 1890 in Savoie as a simple working man's knife It proved popular with
local farmers/workers. In 1897, a series of twelve sizes, numbered 1 to 12, were
developed. Joseph Opinel built his first factory in Pont de Gvoudaz and produced a machine
for mass production of the knife's wooden handles in 1903. To distribute his new range of
knives, Opinel hired peddlers to sell the knife. The knives became popular with PLM
railroad workers, who in the course of their work spread word of the new knife all over
France. By 1909, Opinel had registered the crowned hand as his emblem. By the start
of World War II annual sales were in the hundreds of thousands and 20 million knives had
been sold. Opinel's best invention was the "Virobloc" or safety twistlock
mechanism that increased the safety and versatility of folding knives by allowing the
blade to be locked in the open position.
ISABELLE
2ND REP PARAS
VICTOIRE 1954 HONORER |
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1950'
OPINEL VIROBLOC KNIFE WITH FUIT WOOD HANDLE |
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SIZE
9 23/4 INCHES CLOSED 8 INCHES OPEN |
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VIROBLOC DEVICE ALLOWS THE BLADE TO BE OPENED AND LOCKED |
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CLOTH
LEATHER NECK PIECE SILVER ATTACHMENT & FRENCH INDOCHINA COIN |
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SIGNED AND HALLMARKED |
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SIGNED
ISABELLE
2ND REP PARAS
VICTOIRE
1954 HONORER
2e Régiment Étranger de Parachutistes, 2e REP
was an Airborne regiment in the French Foreign Legion. It is a part of the 11e Brigade
Parachutiste and the spearhead of the French Rapid reaction force.
AT DIEN BIEN PHU, THE 2E REP
WERE PART OF THE DEFENSE FOR THE SOUTHERN OUTPOST FIRE BASE "CAMP ISABELLE" .
THE FRENCH GARRISON FOUGHT FOR FIFTY SEVEN DAYS. FROM 17:30 13TH MARCH UNTIL 17:30 , THE
7TH OF MAY 1954. CAMP ISABELLE IGNORED THE CEASE FIRE ORDER AND FOUGHT ON UNTIL 01:00, A
FEW HOURS BEFORE THE GENEVE CONFERENCE INVOLVING THE US, FRANCE, THE UK, AND THE
USSR. |
*****************************************************
THE BATTLES BEFORE THE STORM
On 16 September, five Viet Minh
infantry and one heavy weapons battalion attacked Dong Khé. It was then garrisoned by
some 300 French troops comprising the 5th and 6th companies of the 2nd battalion of the
3rd Regiment of the French Foreign Legion (3rd REI). On 18 September, the fort was overrun
after bitter fighting, and only 12 survivors escaped to the nearby post at That Khé. 140
Legionnaires had been taken prisoner, the remainder being killed or missing in action.
That Khé was quickly reinforced by the Foreign Legion's 1st Parachute Battalion (1st
BEP), which parachuted in on 17 September. The 1st BEP waited at That Khe while a force of
French colonial troops, the Moroccan 1st and 11th Tabors, assembled at Lang Son.
Designated Groupement Bayard the combined force comprised 3,500 men under the command of
Colonel Le Page. The task force launched an intelligence raid, capturing prisoners who
said a massive Viet Minh offensive was planned.
On 30 September, Groupement Bayard set out from That Khe, led by the 1 BEP. However, Giap
had concentrated ten battalions around Dong Khé, reinforced by a complete artillery
regiment, together with the remaining forces from Le Hong Phong I. The Viet Minh rebuffed
the French forces, which were forced to pull back and wait for air support. Le Page
renewed the attack on 2 October, pushing west to bypass Dong Khé as Viet Minh numbers
were overwhelming.
Meanwhile Colonel Charton's group, led by the 3rd Battalion of 3rd REI, left Cao Bang on 1
October; contrary to orders he took with him his heavy equipment. The group's movement
down RC4 was slowed by Viet Minh ambushes. After bitter fighting, they finally abandoned
their heavy equipment and linked up with Groupement Bayard in the hills around Dong Khé
on 5 October.
The French forces were driven into the Coc Xa
gorge, where they were completely annihilated
by 7 October. Martin Windrow notes that: Some 130 of the Legion parachute battalion out of
the 500 that had jumped emerged from this breakthrough fight; they had only escaped by
clambering down lianas shrouding a 75 ft cliff with their wounded tied on their backs.
In an attempt to support the embattled troops the 1er BEP Replacement Company (120 men)
under Lieutenant Loth had been merged with 268 men from 3e BCCP (Bataillon Colonial de
Commandos Parachutistes, Parachute Colonial Commando Battalion) under Captain Cazeaux and
they were parachuted into That Khe on 8 October, but over the course of the next week
destroyed as well.
Only 23 survivors of the 1st BEP, led by Captain Jeanpierre, managed to escape to French
lines: it became the first French parachute battalion lost in combat, followed by the 3rd
BCCP, of which only 14 soldiers returned unscathed.
*************************************************
INCLUDED IS A RTM BADGE
Regiment de Tirailleurs Marocains
CPL A. Hamed
2nd Moroccan Infantry Division
5th Regiment de Tirailleurs Marocains
Enlisted on 3th of July 1944 at 5th RTM
Corporal in Indochina for 3 years.
Napoleon titled his light infantry Tirailleur's which meant "sharpshooters". The
Tirailleur's mission was to skirmish ahead of the main columns. When French colonial
expansion began the term "tirailleurs" was used to classify native troops
recruited from the various colonial territories. Each territory would be represented by
native troops. The name of each Regiment would include the Colony Territory that the
troopers originated from. Thus the 5th RTM would be the Fifth Regiment of Tirailleurs from
Marocco or the Fifth Regiment of Tirailleurs Marocains. So, the last initial represented
the territory + troopers. Each battalion and regiment would be commannded by French
Officers. While recruits came from most French colonial possessions, Many times troops
raised fron IndoChina would fight in Tunisia, or troops from Algeria would fight in
IndoChina; even in the territory they originated from. Before During and after World War
II, Tirailleurs were recruited from Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, West Africa (Senegalai),
Madagascar and Indochina (Annam, Tonkin and Cambodia).The last Moroccan regiment in the
French Army was the 5th RTM ("Regiment de Tirailleurs Marocain") was disbanded
in 1965.
********************************************************
The Death Of
General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny
and
French Indochina
The French army would recover from their
disasters along Colonial Route 4 due to the fact the Viet Minh had been stopped on the
doorstep of Hanoi at the Battle of Dong Trieu in March 1951. Then in May of 1951, the Viet
Minh move into the Red River Delta via the Day River was stopped dead at Ninh Binh, Yen
Phuc and Thai Binh. The Viet Minh were then expelled from the Black River highlands at
Nghia Lo after a daring airborne drop into their rear.
From the panic of one disastrous defeat after
another to a light at the end of the tunnel in one year could be laid at the feet of the
architect of warfare General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny.
Vain, Arrogant and Self-Centered, Jean de
Lattre de Tassigny was a landed nobility cavalry officer who abandoned the 12th Dragoons
Calvary for World War I Infantry Trench Fighting. After WWI, he was sent to Morocco where
he commanded Colonial Troops. With the outbreak of World War II and the defeat of
the supposed "vaunted" French Army, he was called to command the French First
Army under the banner of the Free French Forces. From the South France to the Rhine
and Danube rivers, Jean de Lattre de Tassigny commanded Colonial and French forces to
victories.
At the end of WWII Jean de Lattre de Tassigny
abandoned the relative Military Peace of France and a cushy position in NATO for the
action of Indochina; a war that almost all senior officers desired no part of.
French aims in Indochina were the development
of Vietnam as an independent state in the French Union with a Vietnamese national army.
Following the battle of Dong Trieu, de Lattre continued on his blueprint for success;
which centered on ending the "reactive" war fare --responding to the Viet
Minh-- and returning to strict offensive warfare that would re-establish the French
military and subsequent Vietnamese national authority in disputed and enemy-held
territory.
After a quick tour of the US, where he lobbied
the US Military and Political Leaders, and then through France for the same, General Jean
de Lattre de Tassigny discovered he had cancer.
Yet, his first action after arriving in Saigon was to implement his offensive strategy.
His ground commanders and he were in agreement
with the intelligence that the Viet Minh were preparing another Delta offensive. Now the
was time to go on the offensive and force the the Viet Minh to react before they began
their offensive by taking Hoa Binh back from the Viet Minh. .
The French had retaken Hoa Binh with an
airborne drop in 1946, but had abandoned it in October of 1950 following the devastating
Viet Minh victories on Colonial Route 4. Viet Minh Control of Hoa Binh now meant they
could move Viet Minh forces from their Tonkin highlands staging area; they could travel
unimpeded to Hanoi from the south --and it allowed for the flow of Viet Minh arms and
munitions to forces in northern central Vietnam.
Taking control of Hoa Binh would force the Viet
Minh to face paratroops, riverine forces and the new de Lattre created Mobile Groups with
enough firepower and mobility to destroy Viet Minh regular forces. Once Hoa Binh was
gained the French would garrison Hoa Binh with French forces until the Vietnamese army
could be formed to replace them.
The first phase of the campaign, Operation Tulipe, kicked off
on November 10, 1951, to seize the Cho Ben Pass and extend French military control beyond
Provincial Route 21(the so-called Route des Concessions).It was successful. With a toehold
in the Muong highlands, de Lattre moved on to Phase II.
Following the seizure of Cho Ben, de Lattre restructured forces into three
operational groups in order to take Hoa Binh by land, air and river. On November
13.riverine and ground forces began their movement Operational Group North advanced
as far as Dan The and the Ap Da Chong crossroads , another liaison group got bogged down
in dense vegetation and Operational Group South reached Kem Pass on Colonial Route
6. The 2nd Colonial Parachute Battalion (2nd BPC), an airborne engineer platoon, an
airborne artillery section and a small paratroop battle staff and the 1st Colonial
Parachute Battalion (1st BPC) jumped in followed by the 7th Colonial Parachute Battalion
(7th BPC) . The paratroops took their objectives.
General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny won three major victories at Vinh Yen, Mao khé
and Yen Cu Ha. He successfully defended the north of the country against the Viet
Minh. He even saw his only son sacrificed in Frances cause during the Battle for Nam Dinh.
In 1951, illness forced de Lattre de Tassigny to return to Paris where he later died of
cancer; he was posthumously made Maréchal de France.
After his return to France, his successors
Raoul Salan and Henri Navarre did not enjoy the same level of success as de Lattre did.
They completely disregarded the successful military methods and operations of de Lattre.
General Raoul Salan would draw Viet Minh units away from the Red River delta and into a
similar campaign at Na San. But Salan and his staff were replaced by General Henri Navarre
and his staff .
General Henri Navarre, who had not studied the
lessons of de Lattre and Hoa Binh, would make every mistake ever made in Indochina since
1946 in one place: Dien Bien Phu. His decisions would cost thousands of lives, including
Americans, cost the prestige and wealth of his nation, cost the entire French Colonial
System and open the door to the Second USA Indochina War .
THE FRENCH TRIBULATION WOULD CONTINUE
UNTIL
THE BATTLE OF DIEN BIEN PHU.
***********************************************
MILITARY DOCUMENT
MONEY POUCH BELT
signed
FREE FRENCH CROSS
1ST FFB
13eDBLE
11/13e
MANUFACTURED DURING WWII. THIS AMERICAN MILITARY DOCUMENT / MONEY
BELT/POUCH/ FITS UP TO 40 INCH WAIST WITH TWO COMPARTMENTS AND CONMAR ZIPPER
VIETNAM NOTES JAPANESE NOTES VIETNAMESE COINS AND THE POUCH IS SIGNED
*******************************************
Lai Chau &
T'ai Federation
In November 1953, the Chinese, at
odds with the US over Korea, and knowing the US was financing the French in Indochina,
convinced the Viet Minh to attack Lai Chau, the capital of the T'ai Federation (in Upper
Tonkin), which was backed by, and loyal to, the French.
The new French commander in chief in
Indochina, General Henri Navarre, moved to defend his allies. The T'ai "maquis"
had long formed a significant threat to the Viet Minh "rear". In addition, the
T'ai supplied the French with opium that was sold to finance French special operations.
And, by not assisting The T'ai, the Viet Minh could sweep into Laos. Yet Lai Chau was
impossible to defend.
So, after contact with many military
personel, the US and other parties, a plan was developed and decision was made (against
many of the "individuals" and countries advice--including the US ) to set up a
strong hold and lure the Viet Minh into a set battle in a valley called Dien Bien Phu.
On November 20, Navarre launched
Operation Castor with a paratroop drop on the broad valley of Dien Bien Phu, which was
chosen partially due to its aged runway. Focusing on THAT runway, the troops rapidly
transformed a defensive perimeter consisting of eight strong points around the
airstrip.
In December 1953, the T'ais received
word to march out of Lai Chau and come to Dien Bien Phu -- they were badly mauled by
the waiting Viet Minh forces- a sign of things to come.
*********************************************************
AP PHOTO
RELIEF TROOPS TRANSPORTED TO
DIEN BIEN PHU
SIGNED &
DATED AP 6 X 9 PHOTO
APRIL 26 1954. FRENCH TROOPS IN MUFTI
LEAVE FOR INDOCHINA
FRENCH PARATROOPERS, GARBED IN CIVILIAN CLOTHES, ARRIVE AT ORLY FIELD PARIS , WITH THEIR
GEAR PRIOR TO BOARDING U.S. AIR FORCE PLANES FOR FLIGHT TO BOLSTER FRENCH UNION
FORCES IN INDOCHINA APRIL 20,. ON THE FOLLOWING DAY, U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY
CHARLES E. WILSON ANNOUNCED THE AIR FORCE WAS CARRYING FRENCH TROOPS TO INDOCHINA AT THE
REQUEST OF THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT. (AP WIRE-PHOTO) 1954.
*******************************************
DIEN BIEN
PHU 1
A bad situation got worse.
The French army had built a huge
fortified outpost deep in the jungles northwest of Hanoi in a valley called Dien Bien Phu.
They then sent 15,000 soldiers into
this "bastion", which could only be supplied by airplane.
Unkown to the French, with Communist
China's help, including tons of arms, supplies, artillery and anti aircraft guns --many
being advanced KOREAN WAR CAPTURED AMERICAN MADE GUNS-- the Viet Minh hauled
artillery and anti-aircraft guns into positions in the hills surrounding the valley
fortress. They placed them in concealed and protected emplacements that made it impossible
to detect when they fired, let alone the ability to knock them out.
In addition to the placement of the
US heavy weapons, the Viet Minh sent teams of "workers" to spie on the
fortifications of Beatrice Eliane Gabrielle Dominique Claudine Isabelle Anne-Marie and
Huguette when they were being built and THEY mapped all the structures, including command
posts, artillery placements and had the complete layout and measurements of the main
defensive and command areas as well as the entrenchments.
The Viet Minh also utilized perfect
intelligence to know where and how many of the various troops would be stationed. With
Frenchmen, Legionnaires, Vietnamese, Moracans, Algerians, Africans, and T'ais defending
various positions in various strengths, this knowledge allowed the Viet Minh to cause some
soldiers to desert or quit fighting, and, from 8 years of war, they knew which troops were
weak and which were strong willed and they knew which were new and which were seasoned.
On the twelvth of March the Viet Minh toasted the battle and readied their
troops to start the battle. During the next 56 days, the French situation would become
increasingly desperate.
At 17:30, on the 13th of March, 1954,
the Viet Minh began their attack. The first, immediate casualty was a direct hit on an
important command bunker killing an experienced and important top level commander and his
entire high ranking staff. Within several days, the Viet Minh had caused devastation and
had struck every important top level objective including the runway. When the French tried
to fly in additional troops, the Viet Minh shot down the slow lumbering airplanes, and
when the French tried to fly their wounded out, the Viet Minh shot them down as soon as
they took off. The Runway was taken out within the first 16 days.
**********************************************
French
Indochina
BATAILLON 1 ETRANGER
DE PARA FLAG
1954
BATAILLON 1
ETRANCE DE PARACHUTISTES
FLAG
******************************************
DIEN BIEN
PHU 2
Airdrops, hampered by weather and
anti aircraft flack, delivered supplies until the Viet Minh began trench digging and
repositioning anti air craft guns to target drops and then eliminating the drop zones.
Attack and bombing airplanes were shot down and then the weather made it all but
impossible to fly anything.
As the noose tightened around Dien
Bien Phu, and the casualties grew by the hundreds, replacing troops became impossible.
When aircraft came in many men jumped from moving planes at 50 feet. It was the snipers in
black hawk down on steroids, but casualties simply became the two edged sword.
Paratroopers dropped to their deaths knowing their chances were slim.
The trenches were dug for two main
purposes.
One: To relieve the troops from
countless lethal frontal attacks Though the French forces were at more than a
disadvantage, they had caused the Viet Minh heavy losses and casualties. In fact, at one
point, the Viet Minh forces were decimated and those that remained refused to fight. The
Viet Minh had to bring in new troops!
Two: To cut off airdrop zones and
gain access to French trenches and positions. In one "trench attack" , the Viet
Minh, upon several failures to overwhelm a French defensive strong point, dug a trench
under the objective and, after laying explosives, blew the entire defensive position off
the map. The parties blown up never knew what hit them.
The Viet Minh ordered new troops in
and while waiting for their arrival, they forced various tribes peoples and Vietnam
civilians, by the hundreds if not thousands, to build trenches. Thousands of
trenches, each allowing the next to get closer.
With food and basic supplies missing
targets and dropping right into the Viet Minh hands. Tons of supplies became Viet Minh
property. In one Viet Minh picture, the captured drops were enough to stack 40 feet high
by 50 wide.
Every day the Viet Minh ring
surrounding the fortress grew tighter. The French forces that survived would state that
they could hear the digging 24/7. A frenzy of digging. They also said they could see the
men and woman laborers digging but could not shoot them due to ammunition supplies, At one
point there were 50 shells per soldier left!
********************************************
VINTAGE MILITARY COLONIAL
MEDICAL MEDAL AWARD
|
medal awarded to graduates of military medical training school
Before the French revolution each medical corps of the Military
had to train its own personnel. In 1856 Emperor Napoleon the third set up the Imperial
Military Medical Academy in Strasbourg. Prior to this date, applicants for a position of
medical officer were trained in Army hospitals.
When the Colonial expansion started, there were very few military
health professional on duties in the colonies and their training had taken place in
Medical Academies of the Navy. After completing their curriculum these medical officers
were assigned to regiments of the metropolitan army or were assigned to posts in
territories of the Maghreb, which were either colonies or
protectorates (Algeria, Indochine, Tunisia and Morocco). A new section of this
academy was added in 1941 for the Air-force.
The school of health of the armies of Bordeaux was set up in 1890
to train military and colonial doctors and pharmacists. During he Great War it temporarily
was utilized as a hospital and its teachers and students operated and cared for French
wounded.
Marine and Air Force troops desiring to be medical officers attended the school of health
of the armies of Bordeaux. The end result was that they became physicians, pharmacists and
military personnel or they became a "colonial" and entered the Colonial Medical
Corps. In 1945 Colonial Subjects were allowed to attend.
*************************************************************
DIEN BIEN
PHU 3
And thus the Viet Minh began digging
trenches 24/7 and the French were powerless to stop them. Each day the trenches got closer
and closer. No place was safe from the shelling and waves of attacks as the trenches began
to strangle the strong points.
Soon each defensive position was
attacked and in many cases the French successfully fought off an attack or two, or four,
but eventually they all fell.
On 7 May, an all-out attack against
the remaining French units with over 25,000 Viet Minh against fewer than 3,000 garrison
troops was ordered.
By nightfall, all French central
positions had been captured. The last radio transmission from the French headquarters
reported that enemy troops were directly outside the headquarters bunker and that all the
positions had been overrun. The radio operator in his last words stated: "The enemy
has overrun us. We are blowing up everything. Vive la France!"
That night the garrison made a
breakout attempt. While some of the main body managed to break out, none succeeded in
escaping the valley. However at "Isabelle", a similar attempt later the same
night saw about 70 troops, out of 1,700 men in the garrison, escape to Laos
On 8 May, the Viet Minh counted 11,721 prisoners,
of whom 4,436 were wounded. This was the greatest number the Viet Minh had ever captured:
one-third of the total captured during the entire war. The prisoners were divided into
groups. Able-bodied soldiers were force-marched over 250 miles (400 km) to prison
camps to the north and east. where they were intermingled with Viet Minh soldiers to
discourage French bombing runs. Hundreds died of disease along the way. The wounded were
given basic first aid until the Red Cross arrived, removed 858, and provided better aid to
the remainder. Those wounded who were not evacuated by the Red Cross were sent into
detention
The French survivors (now prisoners) of the battle
at Dien Bien Phu were starved, beaten, and heaped with abuse, and many died Of 10,863
survivors held as prisoners, only 3,290 were officially repatriated four months later
however, the losses figure may include the 3,013 prisoners of Vietnamese origin whose
eventual fate is unknown
At Dien
Bien Phu regiments of Foreign Legion as well as Tirailleur's were present:
1st Battalion/13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade
(1/13 DBLE)
3rd Battalion/13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade
(3/13 DBLE)
1st Battalion/2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment
(1/2 REI)
3rd Battalion/3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment
(3/3 REI)
2nd Battalion/1st Algerian Rifle Regiment
(2/1 RTA)
3rd Battalion/3rd Algerian Rifle Regiment
(3/3 RTA)
5th Battalion/7th Algerian Rifle Regiment
(5/7 RTA)
1st Battalion/4th Moroccan Rifle Regiment
(1/4 RTM)
2nd Thai Battalion
(BT 2)
3rd Thai Battalion
(BT 3)
Parachute Infantry
1st Foreign Parachute Battalion
(1st BEP)
2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion
(2nd BEP)
1st Colonial Parachute Battalion
(1st BPC)
6th Colonial Parachute Battalion
(6th BPC)
8th Shock Parachute Battalion
(8th BPC)
5th Vietnamese Parachute Battalion
(5th BPVN)
2nd Battalion/1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment
(II/1RCP)
Armoured Cavalry
3rd Squadron/1st Light Horse Regiment
(3/1 RCC)
Artillery
2nd Group/4th Colonial Artillery Regiment
(II/4 RAC)
3rd Group/10th Colonial Artillery Regiment
(III/10 RAC)
Claudine
11th Battery/4th Group/4th Colonial Artillery Regiment
(11/IV/4 RAC)
Platoon/1st Colonial Far East Anti-Aircraft Artillery Group
(I GAACEO)
1st Foreign Composite Heavy Mortar Company
(1 CMMLE)
2nd Foreign Composite Heavy Mortar Company
(2 CMMLE)
Anne-Marie
1st Foreign Parachute Heavy Mortar Company
Service Units
31st Engineer Battalion
(31 BG)
Service Units
2nd Company/822nd Signals Battalion
(2/822 BT) -
2nd Company/823rd Signals Battalion
(2/823 BT) -
342nd Parachute Signals Company
(342 CPT) -
2nd Platoon/5th Foreign Legion Medium Repair Company
(2/5 CRMLE)
3rd Ammunition Resupply Company (detachment)
(3 CM)
730th Fuel Resupply Company (detachment)
(730 CR) -
712th Traffic Company
(712 CCR) -
3rd General Staff Transport Company
|
(3 CTQG) -
1st Exploitation Group (Quartermaster Corps)
(GEO 1) -
3rd Marching Battalion/Republican Guard MobileGendarmerie
(detachment)
(3 LM/GRGM) -
403rd Military Post Office
(403 BPM)Medical Service Units
29th Mobile Surgical Team
(ACM 29)
44th Mobile Surgical Team
(ACM 44)
3rd Parachute Surgical Team
(ACP 3)
5th Parachute Surgical Team
(ACP 5)
6th Parachute Surgical Team
(ACP 6)
Intelligence
8th Commando Group/Mixed Intervention Group
(GC 8/GMI)
Operations-Patrols Detachment
(DOP)
Air Force
Airfield Control Post 'Torri Rouge'
(PCIA) Major Jacques Guérin
Fighter Squadron 1/22 'Saintonge' F8F-1 Bearcat (x6)
21st Artillery Air Observation Squadron
(GAOA 21) MS-500 Criquet
1st Light Medical Evacuation Company
(1 CLES) Sikorsky H-19 S-55
21/374th Air Force Signals Company
(CT 21/374) –
195th Air Base Detachment
(DB 195) –
Air Force Marching Company
Fighter Squadron 2/22 'Languedoc' F8F-1 Bearcat
Haiphong (Cat Bi)
Bomber Squadron 1/19 'Gascogne' B-26 Invader
Haiphong (Cat Bi)
Bomber Squadron 1/25 'Tunisie' B-26 Invader
Haiphong (Cat Bi)
Transport Squadron 2/62 'Franche-Comté' Dakota DC-3
Hanoi (Bach Mai Airfield)
Transport Squadron 2/63 'Sénégal' Dakota DC-3
Hanoi (Gia Lam)
Transport Squadron 1/64 'Béarn' Dakota DC-3
Hanoi (Gia Lam)
Transport Squadron 2/64 'Anjou' Dakota DC-3
Hanoi (Bach Mai Airfield)
23rd Artillery Air Observation Squadron
(GAOA 23) MS-500 Criquet Muong Sai
80th Overseas Reconnaissance Squadron
(EROM 80) RF-8F Bearcat (reco)
B-26C Invader (reco) Hanoi (Bach Mai Airfield)
52nd Air Liaison Squadron
(ELA 52) Sikorsky H-19 S-55 Bien Hoa
53rd Air Liaison Squadron
(ELA 53)
Naval Air Arm
3rd Carrier Attack Squadron
(3F) SB2C-5 Helldiver Carrier Arromanches
(Tourane)
Hanoi (Bach Mai Airfield)
11th Carrier Fighter Squadron
(11F) F6F-5 Hellcat Carrier Arromanches
(Tourane)
Hai Phong (Cat Bi)
14th Carrier Fighter Squadron
(14F) F4U-7 Corsair
AU-1 Corsair Carrier Bois Belleau (Halong Bay)
Hanoi (Bach Mai Airfield)
28th Bomber Squadron
(28F) PB4Y Privateer Hai Phong (Cat Bi)
U.S. Central Intelligence Agency
Civil Air Transport
(CAT) Dakota DC-3
C-119 Flying Boxcar Hai Phong (Cat Bi) 37
pilots |
********************************************************
Medal Valour
Discipline
Medal & Ribbon Indochina Campaign
|
|
FRENCH MEDAL VALOUR
INDO CHINA |
Medaille Commemorative
de la Campagne d'Indochine
WITH RIBBON |
******************
President
Eisenhower
Early in his presidency Dwight
Eisenhower made a tough decision about whether to send American troops to fight in
Vietnam. America’s ally in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, France, was
struggling to retain its colonial empire in Indochina (the associated states of Vietnam,
Laos, and Cambodia). Before becoming president, Ike had quietly urged the French
government to grant independence to Indochina, but France had refused to withdraw
By the time Eisenhower became
president in 1953, the communist insurgency against the French had become a fierce war. In
1952, President Truman had authorized $60 million for support of the French military
efforts in Indochina. In 1953, President Eisenhower increased that authorization sixfold
because his advisors convinced him that, “it was the cheapest way to block the spread
of communism in Southeast Asia.� Again, he urged the French government to grant
independence and withdraw from Indochina. When the French refused, Ike said their response
was, “An example of the stupidity of men.�
On April 26, 1954, Dwight D.
Eisenhower stated: As you know, I started more than three years ago trying to convince the
French that they could not win the Indo-China war and particularly could not get real
American support in that region unless they would unequivocally pledge independence to the
Associated States upon the achievement of military victory. Along with this -indeed as a
corollary to it- this administration has been arguing that no Western power can go to Asia
militarily, except as one of a concert of powers, which concert must include local Asiatic
peoples. To contemplate anything else is to lay ourselves open to the charge of
imperialism and colonialism or-at the very least-of objectionable paternalism. Even,
therefore, if we could by some sudden stroke assure the saving of the Dien Bien Phu
garrison, I think that under the conditions proposed by the French, the free world would
lose more than it would gain. If we were
to put one combat soldier into Indochina, then our entire prestige would be at stake, not
only in that area but throughout the world.
During the battle of DIEN Bien Phu,
Eisenhower turned over ten additional B26
light bombers to the French and even authorized sending 200 American mechanics to Vietnam
to maintain the equipment he was sending, but
these gestures had no effect on the battle raging in the valley. Both Ike and his
Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles, believed that a communist takeover in Indochina
would lead to a similar pattern of aggression against other Southeast Asian states.
Trapped, the French government asked
for help: for American aircraft carrier planes to bomb the hills surrounding Dien Bien Phu
and for American military personnel to support the French combat troops on the ground. Ike
personally wanted to support France, not for their adventure in Indochina, but because
they were Allies in NATO
and he wanted the French government to endorse the European Defense Union then being
debated throughout Europe. But his military experience led him to conclude that there
“was just no sense in even talking about United States forces replacing the French in
Indochina.�
They would fall, Ike said, like a series of dominoes lined up close to each other. In such
a manner Eisenhower predicted that all of Southeast Asia would become part of the
communist block. Eisenhower told his staff, “The United States just can’t throw
its forces against the teeming millions of Asia.� But support for U.S. intervention
came from Congress, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the National Security Council. During
the last week in March and the first week in April 1954, the pressure on Eisenhower
increased from Congress, the Joint
Chiefs of Staff, and the National Security Council.for U.S. intervention.
The President decided to cut off the
movement for deeper involvement by stating clearly and precisely the conditions under
which he would sanction sending American combat soldiers to Vietnam.
He set out three preconditions:
first, the troops would have to be from allied forces sent in approximately equal numbers
by at least America, Britain, and Australia; second, the French would have to promise
unconditional independence to the people of Indochina; and, third, the United States
Congress would have to declare war.
The Prime Minister of Great Britain, Winston Churchill, immediately
announced that his country would send no troops to Indochina even though he believed that
the British colony of Singapore was in danger. During the remaining years of his
presidency, when pressured by his advisors to send combat troops to South Vietnam,
Eisenhower would continue to adhere to the principles he set for intervention in the
battle of Dien Bien Phu.
**************************************
MARINE
NATIONALE
USA AIR POLICE COVER CAP
GIVEN TO FRANCE
DATED 1951
COVER
CONVERTED TO FRENCH NAVY BERET
MARINE NATIONALE
THE DRAGO FRENCH MILITARY TRAINING COLLEGE
BADGE
WAS PLACED ON THE CAP FOR DISPLAY ONLY
THIS
"FRENCH MARINE BERET "
BEGAN IT'S LIFE AS A US AP OUTER CAP.
THE UNITED STATES GAVE
THE FRENCH A FEW THOUSAND OF THESE
THE FRENCH ADDED THE BLACK BAND WITH
"MARINE NATIONALE"
EMBROIDER IN GOLD
AND
TURNED THEM INTO A BERET
******************************************************
President John F. Kennedy
In the 1960 U.S. presidential
election, Senator John F. Kennedy defeated Vice-President Richard Nixon. Although
Eisenhower warned Kennedy about Laos and Vietnam, Europe and Latin America "loomed
larger than Asia on his sights." In his inaugural address, Kennedy made the ambitious
pledge to "pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend,
oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and success of liberty.
After taking office he was beset by
the same forces that attempted to get President Eisenhower to commit U.S. Troops.
According When President Kennedy asked General MacArthur his opinion, MacArthur said that
it would "be foolish to fight on the Asiatic continent," and that "the
future … should be determined at the diplomatic table." He said that "there
was no end to Asia and even if we poured a million American infantry soldiers into that
continent, we would still find ourselves outnumbered on every side."
As reports came in and those desiring
war increased their pressure, Kennedy advisers Maxwell Taylor and Walt Rostow recommended
that U.S. troops be sent to South Vietnam disguised as flood relief workers. Kennedy
rejected the idea but decided instead to send 3,000 Green Berets, US Army Special Forces
experts to advise the ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam).
Kennedy would send more military
advisors to Vietnam so that by the end of 1962 there were 12,000 of these advisors in
South Vietnam. Kennedy also sent 300 helicopters with US pilots. They were told to avoid
military combat at all costs but this became all but impossible to fulfil.
As Kennedy increased military assistance, John Kenneth Galbraith warned Kennedy of the
"danger we shall replace the French as a colonial force in the area and bleed as the
French did."
By 1963, there were 16,000 American
military personnel in South Vietnam, up from Eisenhower's 900 advisors. As the failure of
the South Vietnamese Government and Military to conduct the war or run the country in
spite of the US aid and advisors became evident, Kennedy had decided to reduce the number
of US troops in South Vietnam by 1963 --but he was assasinated..
*******************************************
CROIX
du GUERRE T.O.E.
CROIX du GUERRE T.O.E.
Silver tip.
*****************************************
1902 COLOR MAP OF INDOCHINA
IN PRISTINE CONDITION AND FRAMED
*************************************
WITH YOUR INVESTMENT YOU RECEIVE:
b) FREE A ONE YEAR GSW LIMITED WARRANTY
c)3899.00 PROFESSIONAL INSURANCE **APPRAISAL WITH THE HISTORY AND
PICTURES THAT ARE PART OF THIS OFFER: [PRICING WILL BE LISTED FOR ENTIRE COLLECTION
& FOR WATCH SEPARATELY]
**
APPRAISALS ARE STORED ON A GSW DEDICATED SERVER APPRAISAL WEBSITE WHERE YOU MAY
DOWN-LOAD, COPY-TO OR FORWARD TO YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY OR JEWELERS MUTUAL ONLINE
24/7
PLEASE WRITE OR CALL 800 438 6894 IF YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS!!
UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE all watches offered by GSW have been SERVICED. Some
required REPAIR AND RESTORATION! Normal Servicing of Mechanical Watches by an EXPERT
PROFESSIONAL will run between $180.00 to 580.00, depending on the complication of the
movement and that is WITHOUT parts that may be required. SERVICING means DISASSEMBLING THE
ENTIRE WATCH AND MOVEMENT, CLEANING SAME, OILING, LUBING AND REASSEMBLING, timing and
Sealing. RESTORATION is a separate service from SERVICING and may include CRYSTAL, DIAL,
HANDS, CASE, LUGS and BAND. So, WHEN YOU VIEW VINTAGE AND CLASSIC WATCHES OFFERED BY OTHER
VENDORS/DEALERS, the question is: WAS THE WATCH SERVICED?
All watches, from mechanical to quartz devices, require periodic cleaning and
inspection. GSW provides both cleaning and repair services with our main specialty that of
restoring and repairing classic & vintage watches. GSW has established parts accounts
with the oldest watch parts houses in the world as well as a network of watch dealers and
repair centers around the world. GSW also provides dial restoration services. In addition
to servicing new, vintage & classic watches, we also service high grade wristwatches.
Think of your watch as you would a fine automobile, it is worth maintaining as it will
increase your pleasure of ownership and also enhance the resale or trade-in value. If you
plan on passing your watch on to the next generation, skilled periodic maintenance will be
greatly appreciated in the future. Visit our studio gallery online for info on restoring
or repairing your watch and call for 50% discounts from our advertised pricing! |