French president: All combat troops out in 2012

Associated Press ^ | May 25, 2012 | DEB RIECHMANN and JAMEY KEATEN

[DUMBGRUNT]

Q: What do you call a French man killed defending his country?
A: I don’t know either, its never happened!

Not a good one.

Who was the rearguard for the evacuation from Dunkirk, Normandy and Brittany?

http://www.dienbienphu.org/english/

On the French side the 4306 replacements parachuted in between March 14 and May 6 did not make up for the losses suffered between those dates (1,500 killed and more than 4,000 wounded). Among the replacements were 709 non jump-qualified men who volunteered to fight in Dien Bien Phu after April 20, often jumping at night.

For the soldiers of Dien Bien Phú and Isabelle a slow descent into hell was beginning. In the deep silence of the night they would learn the meaning of despair.

The French have neither the ammunition nor the reserves to make a counter attack. All the bunkers are packed with wounded. Those who are not wounded are prisoners. Practically the entire sector east of the Nam Yum is in the hands of the Viets. General Cogny sends a final message to General de Castries expressing the desire that there be no surrender, no white flag. “ The firing has to die of its own. You mustn’t mess up what you have done,” he says.

After destroying all material and supplies the command post at Dien Bien Phu sends a final message to Hanoi: “We’re blowing up everything. Adieu.”