Pierre Segrétain

Pierre Côme André Segrétain (7 November 1909 – 8 October 1950) was a Frenchman infantry and airborne officer of the French Army and French Foreign Legion who fought in World War II and the First Indochina War, primarily in Foreign Legion units. He received command of the 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion (1e BEP) 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 French patriotic military family with military traditions ( his father was a colonel, his grandfather a Divisional general of the French military engineers), Pierre, Côme, André Segretain passes 2 years of corniche at the lycée Sainte Geneviève de Versailles before integrating École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr in 1930.

Military career

Prior WW II

Saint-Cyrien from the Joseph Joffre promotion, Pierre is affected to the 35th Infantry Regiment at Belfort as section commander (lieutenant) then transmission officer. In May 1936, he volunteers for service in the 1st Foreign Regiment at Sidi-bel-Abbès; the Legion opens up for him. Pierre gets introduced to the battle campaigns of Algeria and Morocco with the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment in 1938 and the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment in 1939.

World War II

With the outbreak of World War II, Lieutenant Segrétain belongs to the Foreign Legion group of the French Levant and volunteers to fight in metropole France. It is with the 20th Colonial Infantry Regiment at Saint-Gervais, where he received his baptism of fire. Pierre's bravery and efficiency prove exemplary in showcasing morale support for the ensemble of the troops and would bring forth his first citation. A difficult period commences for the captain Segrétain, since in December 1940, he sails to Beirut to join the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment with whom which he fought against the British and Free French Forces in the Syria-Lebanon Campaign.

Little after the allied Disembarking in North Africa in 1942, Pierre's regiment sides this time with the Allies and engages in the Tunisia Campaign against the Afrika Korps of Rommel. At Loukanda, he leads his combat company facing a superiorly numbered and better equipped ennemy. In July 1943, Pierre participates to the creation and forming of Marching Regiments of the Foreign Legion with whom, he would disembark at Provence, deliver the Franche-Comté and would progress till Danube. Pierre would be made knight of the order of the Legion of Honor.

Indochina War

1er Bataillon Etranger de Parachutiste, 1e BEP (1948-1955)

In 1945, Pierre rejoins Coëtquidan, where, as unit commandant, he is in charge for training transmission units. The Segrétain family live 2 years of peace. After earning his French paratrooper brevet at Pau, captain Segrétain is affected the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment.

A Legion officer formed at the evolutions of the infantry, Pierre is the first commander 1er Chef of the 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion (1e BEP), created in JulY 1, 1948 at Khamisis which he also created the insign of the battalion.^[1] On November 1948, the battalion departs to Indochina. Captain Pierre Jeanpierre seconding command of the 1e BEP, Segrétain leads numerous operations in the Tonkin.

During September 1950, Segrétain alerts command of the three strong positions of artillery while his men picked up their traces at the frontier. The 1e BEP receives for mission to retake the town of Dong Kje on colonial route 4 (RC4) while assuring liaison with That Khe situated at 20 km south. While facing a superior ennemy in numbers, the 1e BEP would have to make movement towards the cuvette of Coc Xa; surrounded by rocks and vegetation, the 1e BEP (1st formation) delivers the first traditional Foreign Legion battlefield of the First Indochina War throughout which the entire battalion is annihilated.^[1] Battalion commander chef de bataillon Segrétain commands his unit till his last effort. Pierre died of his mortal wounds during the night of the 7 to 8 October 1950, while the remaining survivors of the battalion were filtering across ennemy lines to win back That Khe.

The 193rd class of the Saint Cyr Military Academy was named in his honour.

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.

See also

• Parachute Company of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment
• Hélie de Saint Marc
• Airborne Battalions, Regiments, Companies of France
• 10th Parachute Division (France)
• 25th Parachute Division (France)
• 11th Parachute Division (France)
• 9th Parachute Chasseur Regiment
• 6th Foreign Engineer Regiment
• 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment
• 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment
• 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment
• 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment
• Parachute Company of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment
• 3rd Foreign Parachute Regiment
• 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment

References

External links

• History of the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment, 9th Parachute Chasseur Regiment, 14th Parachute Chasseur Regiment and 18th Parachute Chasseur Regiment

Foreign Legion Command French Foreign Legion Honneur et Fidélité History of the French Foreign Legion Foreign Legion Pioneers (Pionniers) List of French paratrooper units Képi Blanc (publication) Current Foreign Legion Units Administrative Communal Depot of the Foreign Regiments 1st Foreign Regiment Foreign Legion Command Foreign Legion Recruiting Group Infantry & Parachute Infantry 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment 13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte Cavalry 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment Engineer & Parachute Engineer 6th Foreign Engineer Regiment 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment Training 4th Foreign Regiment Jungle Training Center Combat Training Center at Arta Beach Defunct Foreign Legion Units Administrative and Training Communal Depot of the Foreign Regiments Parachute Parachute Company of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion 3rd Foreign Parachute Battalion Foreign Air Supply Company 3rd Foreign Parachute Regiment 1st Foreign Parachute Heavy Mortar Company Infantry 1st Foreign Infantry Regiment 4e régiment de marche du 1er étranger 5th Foreign Infantry Regiment 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment 11th Foreign Infantry Regiment 12th Foreign Infantry Regiment 21st Marching Regiment of Foreign Volunteers 22nd Marching Regiment of Foreign Volunteers 23rd Marching Regiment of Foreign Volunteers Cavalry 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment 97th Reconnaissance Group of the Infantry Division Transport Armored Train of the Foreign Legion Disciplinary Disciplinary Company of the Foreign Regiments in the Far East Foreign Legion Brigades 31st Brigade (France)