Posted on 03/17/2003 11:16:36 AM PST by PJ-Comix
That was the Legions 13th Demi-brigade, formed to fight on the side of the Finnish when the Russians invaded in 1939, but by the time the unit was fully mobilized in 1940, the 4-month Finno-Soviet War had ended. But they were a convenient force available to the Allied effort in Norway, at Narvik and Bjervik, and later fought alongside the British Eighth Army's *Desert Rats* in the Western Desert, including actions at Bir Hakim and El Alemain, and against some of those other Foreign Legion units remaining in the service of the Vichy government. Happily, Legionaires were in a position to best reason with other Legionaires, but it's not likely that any unit of the Legion, anywhere, will ever capitulate or surrender on the April 30th anniversary of the 1863 fight of the Legion at Camerone, in Mexico. Now THAT'S a story worth a realistic movie.
I really would like to see a TRUE movie about the French Foreign Legion.
There's of course a different movie for each individual serving in the organization. But it's a rather long movie, of 5 years duration, with no breaks for popcorn. There may be a film about *Operation Leopard* if more a documentary production with surviving participants, though Peter Darman's book on the Kolwezi Drop Surprise Attack could be turned into a screenplay with a minimum of difficulty, I'd expect.
-archy-/-
BTW, what's with the FFL and long beards and pet chickens?
Me too, Ed. I thought it was very well written, acted, and produced. To me it had a great feel of authenticity that is missing in so many movies like this. Willis's character was realistic and well drawn (other than possibly the age issue), very human portrayal instead of stereotypical HollyHero stuff.
MM
Like the Nigerian army running at TOP SPEED all night through the jungle without breaking a sweat?
I wouldn't say top speed, though I'll concede they held up better than the pursuees. ;-)
MM
So far as the old *Cavalry blues* with the yellow scarf, you need only attend one of the more formal military affairs where Dress Blues are worn [as by the enlisted guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetary, as well] to see that bit of history recalled, particularly among the Armor officers whose traditions embrace the older cavalry branch.
BTW, what's with the FFL and long beards and pet chickens?
The long beards [along with leather aprons and axes, rather than or along with rifles while on parade, are the provenance of the Legion's Sappeurs or *sappers*, their version of the Combat Engineers. They've distinguished themselves sufficiently in the Legion's 150-year history to very reasonably be considered an elite among the elite, and their senior NCO's show it. These guys, at least, are no cheese-eating surrender monkeys, but then they're not *just* French, either, though most have earned their citizenship in the Republic the hard way, aftetr three 5-year tours with the Legion, But some of the older Anciens have 25 years service behind their belts, or more.
As for the chickens, those are either roosters [A fighting cock was one of the original Legion insignia] or their consorts, helpful at reminding the young legionaire that not only must he arise with the bugle's call of reveille, but that at sunup, heralded by the rooster's call, he should be at stand-to, [Gardez-vous!] prepared for any dawn attack, a tradition from the Legion's days among Algerian desert bandit raiders.
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