French Foreign Legion Medallion & Medal

[Chris Boonzaier]

I got most of them to play for me. There was one that I couldn't get to run.

Hi,
Most of them play, a few dont forsome reason.
Bst
Chris

[ccj]

Does anyone read French well enough to help me place an order for a beret and proper cap badge? Or, does anyone have one to sell me?

BTW, I still can't connect ot the links. I must have some settings wrong in my PC

Hi,
Most of them play, a few dont forsome reason.
Bst
Chris

[RPN]

Hi Charles


Here's a link to a website in both German and English ... Roland Schaefer sells current / recent Legion clothing items, badges etc - I have found him very reliable.

http://buyffl.com/index.shtml

Regards
Paul

[ccj]

Paul,


Thank you very much.

Hi Charles


Here's a link to a website in both German and English ... Roland Schaefer sells current / recent Legion clothing items, badges etc - I have found him very reliable.

http://buyffl.com/index.shtml

Regards
Paul

[Edelweiss]

The beers are for me.

I was very pleased to read what Chris said in post #27 ; only someone who was "in" can express things in such a right manner, and highlight some points that are specific to the Legion. Some of these points are more important than others, everyone is free to find who they are.

Thanks Chris for "opening your mouth" from time to time !

Chris (and David) really lived the motto "Legio Patria Nostra", with all it implies of good (and less good) things ; this, together with the few points I was speaking of above, makes that for many of us here - and also in many other countries over the planet - an actual or former Légionnaire IS someone special who deserves a special (and positive) à priori, even if you never saw him before.

After this "off topic" post, la tournée est donc pour moi ; envoyez la deuxième !

[Eric K.]

Well I always thought good things of the Legion and did a little training with them too.but after I heard a story of a guy in the FFL listening to ABBA in a combat zone i might have changed my mind .




Eric

[daisycutter416]

Hi folks,

After reading all these reply's i want to say something.
Being a Légionnaire is a way of life. (Un jour Légionnaire, toujours Légionnaire) wich means; once Légionnaire, always Légionnaire.
About comrades listening to ABBA at the front...whoever told you that is a nutcase...every Légionnaire got his responsability, especially in wartime, NO Légionnaire will risk his life or his brothers life by listening to music while bullets flying by.
I respect the opinion of everybody, Légionnaire, or not-Légionnaire, but i do not tolerate those stupid story's.
I was there, i know the way of life, i can not allow people telling lies and fantasies about the Legion.
Correct; not everything is positive in the Legion, but what is always 100% positive in this world?
My time as paratrooper in the 2émé R.E.P. was the best experience i ever had in my life, and it made me the person i am today. I am not a "little monster", traumatised by brutal punishments or whatever you can see on Hollywoodmovies. I did meet all classes of mankind overthere,constructionworker, sailor, even doctor's...
Chris made a point there, but i also have to say this; joining the Legion is something personal, you have to think about it for a very long time before you sign in. Rambo's are not the kind of guys they need there. It's a fact that few Légionnaires have problems to adopt in civil life after a few years, but you can always find help by your comrades or groupments of ex-Légionnaires.
It is a hard life, your eyes will open after a few days and you will do and see things that you never saw or did before, not all of them positive that's a fact, but the friendship and the honour you will never find in civil life.
Sorry to hear about what Chris wrote about the Legion being like somekind of religious sect...it means that this kind of life was not meant to be lived by you. I am not brainwashed or fanatic, not at all. i just respect the Legion as being my second home and every Légionnaire or ex-Légionnaire as my brother.
Regards, David H.

[Chris Boonzaier]

"About comrades listening to ABBA at the front...whoever told you that is a nutcase...every Légionnaire got his responsability, especially in wartime, NO Légionnaire will risk his life or his brothers life by listening to music while bullets flying by."

I listened to Abba for 2 days solid in Bosnia and admit it like a man !

"Sorry to hear about what Chris wrote about the Legion being like somekind of religious sect...it means that this kind of life was not meant to be lived by you."

For me the legion is the closest thing to a sect as you can find. You live for the legion, outsiders are seldom welcome, You have to devote yourself to the life, and people to have been there to know what its like.... Just like a sect.

"Rambo's are not the kind of guys they need there. It's a fact that few Légionnaires have problems to adopt in civil life after a few years, but you can always find help by your comrades or groupments of ex-Légionnaires."

Agreed, but I occasionally meet ex Legionnaires and enjoy the chat, I dont go out of my way to do it though.

I see where you are coming from, but for me my opinion stands. I loved my time there, but 5 years then basta. I did not see myself doing 15 and trying to settle into civilian life.

I left at 24 and was still young enough to do something, I really wonder how a Sous Officier with 15 or 20 years service leaves and takes up his normal life.

The German and American armies have programs where you can study after you serve, or while you serve, so folks can leave and find a civilian job afterwards, and the legion? You can go paint ashtrays at Puylobier....

[Eric K.]

Sorry to offend you ...But first of all i said nothing about "the front" no "bullets flying by" I said a combat zone,and yes whoever said that Is indeed a nutcase!! .


Eric.

Hi folks,

After reading all these reply's i want to say something.
Being a Légionnaire is a way of life. (Un jour Légionnaire, toujours Légionnaire) wich means; once Légionnaire, always Légionnaire.
About comrades listening to ABBA at the front...whoever told you that is a nutcase...every Légionnaire got his responsability, especially in wartime, NO Légionnaire will risk his life or his brothers life by listening to music while bullets flying by.
I respect the opinion of everybody, Légionnaire, or not-Légionnaire, but i do not tolerate those stupid story's.
I was there, i know the way of life, i can not allow people telling lies and fantasies about the Legion.
Correct; not everything is positive in the Legion, but what is always 100% positive in this world?
My time as paratrooper in the 2émé R.E.P. was the best experience i ever had in my life, and it made me the person i am today. I am not a "little monster", traumatised by brutal punishments or whatever you can see on Hollywoodmovies. I did meet all classes of mankind overthere,constructionworker, sailor, even doctor's...
Chris made a point there, but i also have to say this; joining the Legion is something personal, you have to think about it for a very long time before you sign in. Rambo's are not the kind of guys they need there. It's a fact that few Légionnaires have problems to adopt in civil life after a few years, but you can always find help by your comrades or groupments of ex-Légionnaires.
It is a hard life, your eyes will open after a few days and you will do and see things that you never saw or did before, not all of them positive that's a fact, but the friendship and the honour you will never find in civil life.
Sorry to hear about what Chris wrote about the Legion being like somekind of religious sect...it means that this kind of life was not meant to be lived by you. I am not brainwashed or fanatic, not at all. i just respect the Legion as being my second home and every Légionnaire or ex-Légionnaire as my brother.
Regards, David H.

[daisycutter416]

Hi Eric and Chris,

I am not offended at all! I was just imagening a Légionnaire doing his task in wartime with a walkman listening to ABBA...i misunderstood you. Sorry.
Chris you made some points, and i respect your opinion. Everybody is different, experiences are unique and personal.
But what had you in mind before joining the Legion? Ofcourse your superiors and your fellow-Légionnaires don't like anybody who is "bitching" around and complaining all the time, it is the Legion my friend, not kindergarden. If a Légionnaire is marching slower than the rest of his section because he is injured, one of the others will help him as much as he can, you cannot deny that! If the "bitching" Légionnaire becomes a problem for the safety or the deadline of a mission, he will not longer be appreciated, offcourse, is that a problem? That is normal in my opinion. It is somekind of "survival of the fittest", and i don't mind. I am proud to be an Légionnaire-paratrooper, and i also have some mixed feelings about the Legion, but i have nothing against the attitude and the hard rules. It is true that you loose your some rights from the moment you sign in, but it's up to the VOLUNTEER if he wants to live that way no? Nobody forces you into the Legion.
You wrote that is not the best army in the world, maybe you are right, and i don't care, but i would prefer fighting a war with my comrades, than with the best army of the world.
Sur la terre impregnee
du sang des Légionnaires
le soleil
ne se couche jamais!
David H.

[Chris Boonzaier]

Hi Eric and Chris,

I am not offended at all! I was just imagening a Légionnaire doing his task in wartime with a walkman listening to ABBA...i misunderstood you. Sorry.
Chris you made some points, and i respect your opinion. Everybody is different, experiences are unique and personal.
But what had you in mind before joining the Legion? Ofcourse your superiors and your fellow-Légionnaires don't like anybody who is "bitching" around and complaining all the time, it is the Legion my friend, not kindergarden. If a Légionnaire is marching slower than the rest of his section because he is injured, one of the others will help him as much as he can, you cannot deny that! If the "bitching" Légionnaire becomes a problem for the safety or the deadline of a mission, he will not longer be appreciated, offcourse, is that a problem? That is normal in my opinion. It is somekind of "survival of the fittest", and i don't mind. I am proud to be an Légionnaire-paratrooper, and i also have some mixed feelings about the Legion, but i have nothing against the attitude and the hard rules. It is true that you loose your some rights from the moment you sign in, but it's up to the VOLUNTEER if he wants to live that way no? Nobody forces you into the Legion.
You wrote that is not the best army in the world, maybe you are right, and i don't care, but i would prefer fighting a war with my comrades, than with the best army of the world.
Sur la terre impregnee
du sang des Légionnaires
le soleil
ne se couche jamais!
David H.

David,
I have nothing against anything the way the legion is run, its what makes it special.
The question was

"I don't know if we can stray this far "off topic", but I too am curious about who/why/how people join the L.E. Not that I plan on doing it (quite happy in the US military, thanks) but it definately has a "romantic" draw to it - though I'm not sure what is based on truth or simply on Hollywood's take on the Legion. I'd love to hear more from you both. "

and my answer was as above, i.e. the "romantic". I dont think the legion should change, I hope it does not. it is like it is.


"If a Légionnaire is marching slower than the rest of his section because he is injured, one of the others will help him as much as he can, you cannot deny that"

Sure, but if he is a lazy ass, he is just as likely to get a kick in the ass. I was instructer on a Mortier 81 course a number of times and on the route marches we caporals always marched at the rear to provide a push or leather boot persauder.

No problems with the system, but lets tell it like it is.

The best army? I dont think so. There are many, many that are worse, but the equipment could be better (unless it has improved) and you will also have had officers who dream of a bayonet charge instead of modern fire and manouvre.

anyway, as I said, the man wanted to know how it was. for me it was fine, but I think folks need to know a bit more reality than Jean Claude van Damme legion.

[daisycutter416]

Hi Chris,

That's more like it.
Too many wrong films and books "romantisize" the FFL, and you are right about "kicking the ass" of lazy Légionnaires too. The best thing of the whole system is, that after basic training in Castelnaudary, (4 months + the 1 month you spend in Aubagne), you have the choise; leaving the Legion and go back home, or stay. In those 4 months of training you can have a pretty good idea of what the Legion stands for. You will eat, sleep, walk , talk and s*** the Legion. About contact with the "outside world"; you will not be able to phone or write letters the first 2 months, after that you can write and call as much as you like. The solde you earn will be deposed on a account of "La Poste", you will have a creditcard also. When you are on mission or "outre-mer" you will receive cash a certain amount in the local valuta.
Several buddy's of mine who are still in the Legion are now sous-officier, writing me about the changes wich are going on in the several regiments. Légionnaires have rights now, even heavy punishments are under supervision of the officers since 2000. (yes i know...nothing will leave the section when something happens at night or in the field) but in my time some guys where beaten hard with phisical harm afterwards, those days are gone now.

I would suggest to everybody who wants to join the FFL, think about it for a long period, try to talk with ex-Légionnaires, (i mean REAL ex-Légionnaires, because more than 80% who claims to be a Légionnaire, never had a Képi Blanc on his head...!)
5 years can be very long and very hard if you made the wrong choise, you have to leave your friends, family and will never be the same afterwards. The rate today is that 1 out of 10 Légionnaires dies in combat or in training, you will be faster than expected in combat.

For further questions; everybody is welcome to mail me, but...in my country it is forbidden to recrute soldiers for a foreign army, so I JUST GIVE TIPS!!

Regards, David H.

[H BABERT]

Hi ,
About FFL...

"Qui sait si l'inconnu qui dort sous l'arche immense, mêlant sa gloire épique aux orgueils du passé. N'est pas cet étranger devenu fils de France, non par le sang reçu mais par le sang versé ?"

Le Volontaire Etranger
Pascal Bonetti, 1920

Herlé

[daisycutter416]

Hi ,
About FFL...

"Qui sait si l'inconnu qui dort sous l'arche immense, mêlant sa gloire épique aux orgueils du passé. N'est pas cet étranger devenu fils de France, non par le sang reçu mais par le sang versé ?"

Le Volontaire Etranger
Pascal Bonetti, 1920

Herlé

Bonsoir,
Jamais lu cette poeme, merci beaucoup!
Bien a vous, amicalement, David H.