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    #1

    Frenchmen in the US Army?

    Hello all!

    I'm currently researching about Frenchmen who enlisted into the US Army during the Second Vietnam War who had served during the First Indo China War.

    From what I've looked into the only possibilities I can think of is very early Liason Officers to MAAG, or if the Frenchmen had moved to the States got citizenship and then enlisted?

    Thanks for your help in advance chaps

    Danny
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    #2
    You do not need to be a full-citizen to join the Army but there are restrictions that have changed over time concerning legal residency etc. You may be able to get more information from the US Army History center.

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      #3
      Cheers for the help Johnny!

      Other parts of my research have led to mention of some US Airborne sporting French Wings during the period also subdued examples have been seen on the market. Obviously not S/Vietnam type as totally different in design.

      The quest continues

      Danny

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        #4
        I think you are going to find very few people in this category.

        While anybody can join the US Army, I believe you have to hold US citizenship to be an officer. The other thing is that during that time period you had quite a few US Army officers who spoke French as we had bases in France until forced out by de Gaulle.

        In the case of MAAG advisors, I can imagine the US Army not assigning former French nationals due to a perceived or imagined conflict of interest.

        There were a number of Germans and East Europeans who joined the US Army, often to escape the lack of opportunity in post-war Europe. Many of these were drawn into the Special Forces, but were most often tagged for European assignments.

        Good luck... it will be interesting to see what you find.

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          #5
          One special case would be the members of the Society of the Cincinnati. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Society_of_the_Cincinnati

          French members of the Society have the right to serve in the US Armed Forces. I personally know someone whose ancestor was part of General Rochambeau's staff and who served as an officer of the US Marine Corps in the 1990s.

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            #6
            Originally posted by JedburghDanny View Post
            Cheers for the help Johnny!

            Other parts of my research have led to mention of some US Airborne sporting French Wings during the period also subdued examples have been seen on the market. Obviously not S/Vietnam type as totally different in design.

            The quest continues

            Danny
            We (in the 80s) were allowed to wear one foreign award and for the case of most people it was a set of Foreign wings. In Vietnam, People rotating from 10th SF Group or another European assignment would have had the chances to earn French wings, that may be the explanation. IMO most the former French officers would have ended up working with the CIA or RDS etc. as advisors etc. I am sure they were valauble sources for information. I would look into Special Operations groups first. I had a commander in the 80s that was French Canadian that joined the US Army and was Artillery during the last part of Vietnam. He wore French Commando School insignia on his uniform.

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              #7
              French Wings.

              As an aside to this topic regarding the use of wings of the French style, this type can be seen during the wartime years being used by nations such as Cambodia in the region.

              See an older thread here post 14 may be of interest.

              Wings of a French design being worn do not automatically denote French issue per se....

              One more thing to consider!

              Good luck with the research.

              Comment

                #8
                Originally posted by Patrick Dempsey View Post
                As an aside to this topic regarding the use of wings of the French style, this type can be seen during the wartime years being used by nations such as Cambodia in the region.

                See an older thread here post 14 may be of interest.

                Wings of a French design being worn do not automatically denote French issue per se....

                One more thing to consider!

                Good luck with the research.
                Those are some great photos Patrick!
                It's also nice to know there is at least one other member of the forum, beside myself, who is currently sulking on a chair in the corner of a dark room after not being able to attend SOS this year....

                Comment

                  #9
                  Originally posted by thefallenbuddha View Post
                  Those are some great photos Patrick!
                  It's also nice to know there is at least one other member of the forum, beside myself, who is currently sulking on a chair in the corner of a dark room after not being able to attend SOS this year....
                  I did not go either so that makes three of us. I spend enough money from the Den, no need to fly to Kentucky.

                  Comment

                    #10
                    It's also nice to know there is at least one other member of the forum, beside myself, who is currently sulking on a chair in the corner of a dark room after not being able to attend SOS this year....

                    You just had to bring it up didn't you!

                    Comment

                      #11
                      Hmmm, I would think that there was a few. Not far from the topic, I did see a grouping belonging to a Finnish soldier who serve in the Winter War, Continuation War and then he serve in the Vietnam War with the U.S. Army. He was listed as MIA during the Vietnam War.

                      Comment

                        #12
                        Originally posted by Finnishlion178 View Post
                        Hmmm, I would think that there was a few. Not far from the topic, I did see a grouping belonging to a Finnish soldier who serve in the Winter War, Continuation War and then he serve in the Vietnam War with the U.S. Army. He was listed as MIA during the Vietnam War.
                        Is he Captain Larry Thorne (Lauri Torni) ?

                        Valery

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