Vive La Legion

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I served in the Legion at the end of the 70's. It changed my life, some for good, some for not so good :) but I think in general made me a better person.

In those days, and I don't how many of you on here are old enough to have been in then, it was different. There was no political correctness, no human rights bullshit. It was hard, brutal, violent and we had the ugliest poufiasse you ever saw.:) Kronenbourg and Pruneaux do NOT taste the same unless you are drinking them with tes camarades. I was lucky, I already spoke some French when I joined. The money was crap, the living conditions in Corte and Bonifacio were crap, Lt Francesci was a really good guy and S/Chef Dietz was a bastard (end of his career and ex-Hitler Youth). The vehicles were crap, the weapons were REALLY crap, but we were BROTHERS. That sense of brotherhood has lasted all my life since then (I am 53 now) and if I ever come a across an ancien Legionnaire in trouble I do not hesitate to help.

I do not regret joining. Ever since, I have missed the camaradie and the ability to be sure that, however much an a**hole the guy next to me was, I could depend on him. It has made a bit of a loner, and I say what I think because, whatever beating you want to give me because I said it, it is not as bad as the ones that came before :)

The point of this post is this. Are there any more of my generation on here. If so, I would like to make contact. Also I want to hear the opinions of those that came after.
 
Im not realy from your generation but i think it hasn't changed that much.
Equipment and vehicles are better now but still crap.
Alot has changed but who knows if it is better or not.
Fact is the legion always was something apart and will ever be.

I do not regret a single day even as i almost died , i came in as a young boy ("i was 19") and i came out as a man.


LEGIO PATRIA NOSTRA
 
Mpctc,
Another not from your generation. My outlook on the Legion was this after leaving the Brit Paras in 94. I had virtually nothing, failed marriage, and the 'civvy' aquaintances that I had I would have most certainly got lost in the North West and be either dead now or in prison. Until the day I decided to join the Legion, no websites and little information around then I just got a coach from Liverpool to Marseille (2 days) and somehow arrived at Malmousque (never knew Aubagne existed at the time) the rest played an important part of re-shaping my life.
I was 26 (one of the oldest at Castelnaudary in the section beleive it or not) and was thrilled to be in the top three at the end of Castel. I did not find Castel hard fitness or the discipline wise due partly to my Brit Para Regt mentallity but the farm 'raissac' was a nightmare and I dont think I slept for the whole month or so whilst we where there!!!

I only spent one year in a combat regiment due to injuries sustained parachuting which, still give me problems today and spent the last two years or so at Aubagne.

There are some people I will never forget and have the utmost respect for them until I die and some that I would like to forget and if I ever came across then ......watch my tracer!!!

My section Adjutant in Castel Adjutant Jourdain (former 2 REI) one of the Sergents Viana (former 1 REC) both French and I have the utmost respect for these people.

The legion re-made the person I am today in both presentation & attitude and as a business person I would like to think I bring its values and certain parts of its ethos into my company, which is hard considering some of the people in todays society.

I still mark certain dates in my diary today Camerone / St Michel and am a regular visitor to France and purchase online a few cases of Wine from 'Puyloubier' in support of the 'les anciens', guys from Algeria & Dien Bien Phu, who I could sit there all day and listen to their stories.

Kro does not taste the same here in England and you cannot get the 'red & white' label in the UK on the stubbys, which is shite!!!
 
strange

I was there three years ago for under a year,but had to leave due to a dislocated shoulder.I never regreted anything before that and will never forget my time there.I recon it is less brutal than it was in the 70s but we were still trained by some brutal bastards.I also dont think the cold,hunger and march distances changed much between now and then.
Has any ex legionaire found that they did better after in their working life?
 
Legioner said:
In that case, I think you and I would understand each other very well:D

LEGIO PATRIA NOSTRA


Why not ?

Isn't it what we got trained for!:D
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Yep I spent 10 years there from 92-02.

Currently in Scotland on holidays with an old legion mate, last week spent 4 days with two other ex legionnaires from the 80's spent all the time drinking beer and wine around a fire and singing legion songs.

Even if we were from different years we are still brothers...

Cpl K...
 
napoleon said:
Mpctc,I did not find Castel hard fitness or the discipline wise due partly to my Brit Para Regt mentallity but the farm 'raissac' was a nightmare and I dont think I slept for the whole month or so whilst we where there!!!
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Strange how things turn out, I was in 1er REC from 1986 - 1991 where Major Bolens was newly promoted. He was a real stickler for things, but a great man whom I have the greatest respect for. I left the Legion and went back to the UK and joined the Parachute Regiment (TA) as I was working.

The training was easier for me when I joined the Paras, which is mainly due to the daily physical activity in the REC, although I wouldn't dare think what it would have been like if the Paras had an equivalent farm to go to lol

I am still in touch with a portion of friends around the world which is great. I hope to attend the Camerone day in Orange next year, as its been a very long time being away. Hopefully I will meet many friends and make new ones.

Voila de Boudin !!
 
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Good day to you all hope this finds you well, was intresting reading all your posts but would you be able to answer a question for me?.

We're do the Legion do there tours and are they part of the French army or used for differnt roles??. Ive always been intrested in the legion but its so hard to find out real facts out about them!!. Ive not come across them out in Afgan but my friend saw then working in kosovo...

You all stay safe and enjoy your singing.......
 
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