Pierre Segrétain

Pierre Côme André Segrétain (7 November 1909 – 8 October 1950) was a French Army officer, that fought in World War II and the First Indochina War, primarily in Foreign Legion units. He received command of the 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion when it was created in 1948 and lead it for two years in Indochina before being fatally wounded while leading his battalion during the Battle of Route Coloniale 4.

He was married to Marie-Elizabeth Rossignol together they had three children: Philippe, Étienne and Anne-Marie.

Early life

Pierre Segrétain was born in a military family with military traditions. He studied a year in minor seminary, two years at the lycée Sainte Geneviève at Versailles before entering Saint Cyr Military Academy in 1930. He graduated in 1932 as a part of the Joffre promotion and was sent to the 35th Infantry Regiment at Belfort as section leader and transmission officer. In May 1936, he joins the 1st Foreign Regiment at Sidi Bel Abbès, Algeria, his first posting in the Foreign Legion. He takes part in campaigns in Algeria and Morocco with the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (1938) and 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment (1939).

World War II

When the war breaks out, Lieutenant Segrétain was part of the Foreign Legion contingence in the Middle East. He volunteered to fight in the Metropolitan France, being posted to the 20th Colonial Infantry Regiment at Saint-Gervais, where he receives his baptism of fire during the Battle of France. His conduct in battle earns him his first citation for bravery. He was promoted to Captain and in December 1940, he was posted to the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment in the French Mandate of Syria. There he fought against the British and Free French in the Syria-Lebanon Campaign.

After the Allied landings in French North Africa, he and his regiment fought together with them against the Germans in Tunisia. In July 1943, he was posted to the newly created Foreign Legion March Regiment, with which he takes part in the landings in Southern France, the liberation of Franche-Comté and the advanced to the Danube River.

Indochina

In 1945, he joins Coëtquidan and becomes responsible for instruction in military transmission. After receiving his parachute wings at Pau, Captain Segrétain was posted to the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment.

As a Legion officer with training in the developments in infantry, Segrétain was responsible for creating the 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion on 1 July 1948 at Khamisi. He also became its first commander and departed with it for Indochina on 12 November the same year, seconded by Major Jeanpierre. Segrétain led the battalion during several successful in Tonkin.

During September 1950, Segrétain and the battalion receive the mission to jump on a retake Dong Khe on Route Coloniale 4 and establish contact with That Khe, 20 kilometres south of Dong Khe. Faced with a superior enemy, Segrétain tries to withdraw to Coc Xa, but was assailed on all sides. Segrétain was seriously wounded in an ambush and ordered his men to leave him, he died shortly afterwards in captivity.

The 193rd class of the Saint Cyr Military Academy was named in honour of him; Promotion Chef de Bataillon Segretain.

Decorations

• Knight of the Légion d'honneur
• Croix de guerre 1939-1945 with silver star
• Croix de guerre des Théatres d'Opérations Extérieures with 3 palms

He received 8 citations during his career.