Bernhard H.Holst

Hello readers: The following members of one of several battalions deployed during the above described combat and who lost their lives certainly deserve mention here. All belonged to one of outstanding infantry units, personnel of which consisted mainly of Vietnamese riflemen with French cadres, here one of the Bataillons de Marche Indochinois - Captain (Medical Corps) DERIVERY, Jean Paul, DoB 10 February, 1926 in Amiens. Captain Derivery most likely was the Battalion Medical Officer.; - Sergeant DE MAUDUIT DU PLESSIX, Yann Marie Bernard20 August 1931 in Nantes( I believe from a prominent French family); - Rifleman 1.class DONG, Van Bong, Born in 1919 in Hadong, North Vietnam. Unknown to this writer but remembered as being members of a respected unit often engaged together in operations. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Hugh. I was deployed during the fighting phase of the French war in Indochina in a portion of the then called Tonkin area , the Red River Delta. The Amphibious Group I belonged to, could not operate in the more mountainous areas. Only after the cease fire in the summer of 1954 did a gradual withdrawal to Central - and South Vietnam begin with a location of Vung Tau ( Cape St.Jacques), Nha Be and finally the port area of Saigon. It appeared to us that the severity of fighting in the South was much less than that in Central Vietnam and of course the north. ( The monumental ambush of a French mobile group which included the French Korea regiment in the final months while operating in the Highlands comes to mind). It was apparent that more and more battle worthy units made their way north. For example the I./13.DBLE mainly deployed in the South came north, to be destroyed in Dien Bien Phu. I am unaware of a French Para Battalion and the U-Minh Forest. My library contains the history of the French Airborne Forces through the 1970's. With a little more information one could research the matter. Best regards. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello readers: In addition to the original post I wish to make a record of two fallen comrades of arms in the French Foreign Legion battalion who lost their lives during this action while participating in the first attempt to take the village of Tho Lao on the 17. May, 1952 - Legionnaire BOHME, Willi, DoB 5 July, 1932 in Leipzig, Germany, Service Number 82902, III./5.REI; -Rifleman 1st Class CHUONG A Bau, DoB 12 March, 1930 in Yen My/Province Quang Yen, Vietnam, Service Number 72956, III./5.REI. (Member of native elements assigned as reinforcements to nearly all French Infantry Battalions). Bernhard H. Holst

Hello readers: the following account of a combat action is in memory of Cavalier ( Trooper) MAU who died in action during this combat while crew member of a LVT ( armored Landing Vehicle Tracked) when a mortar round hit the barrel of his machine gun. This account also serves in the memory of the other 22 KIA during this engagement whose names are unknown to us presently. Of this number 4 legionnaires belonged to the 2.Groupement Amphibie of the 1.REC and the above mentioned Trooper MAU. Upon the return for his second tour of duty in Vietnam in early February 1954, this writer was reassigned to the 2.G.A. and entrusted with the 1.Squad of the 1.Platoon of the mounted elements of the 18.Escadron. These elements were commanded by then Lt. Xavier de Cacqueray-Valmenier ( later Captain and killed in Algeria in 1958 as earlier described in other posts). The 1.Platoon was commanded by the Marechal des Logis-Major Tabournel well remembered from my earlier tour. and who requested this new assignment. A quick description of the kind of formation involved here seems in order: The 2. G.A. consisted of four Escadrons ( Troops), namely the 1. and 8. Escadron of three combat platoons each equipped with M24 Weasel ( called Crabes by us).These vehicles were tracked amphibious ones but not armored. Armed with Automatic Rifles, 30 cal. M.G. and 57 mm Recoilless Rifles. Then the 11. and 18. Escadrons each with three combat platoons equipped with armored LVT 4 (Landing Vehicles Tracked called Alligator by us). Armed with 30 and 50 cal. M.G., 75 mm Recoilles Rifles and the transport for the mounted elements. In addition four LVT Howitzer with 75 mm guns and two LVT modified to accomodate a 40mm Bofor ( anti aircraft) gun. The mounted elements of the 11. and 18. Escadrons had the strength of 120 to 140 men each and in the case of the 18.Escadron were organized in three platoons of four squads each, two so-called heavy because armed with an Automatic Rifle ( FM 24/290 and two rifle grenade launchers) and two so-called light because entirely armed with sub- machine guns. Only the "heavies" had one to two Legionnaire cadres while the "lights" were completely composed of Vietnamese personnel. Only slight combat actions took place during the months of Feb. , Mar. and Apr. allowing this writer and his men to get acquainted with each other. Unfortunately the assignment of a Legionnaire to the squad turned out to be in the negative. An apparent reject from some other unit the Leg.van der M. did not fit by being unable or unwilling to adopt basic field craft such as taking cover etc. Efforts to train and then get rid of him were unsuccessful. Being a strong fellow qualified him to the carry of a backpack containing 10 spare Automatic Rifle magazines. He required constant supervision. Base of operations of the 2.G.A. was Nam Dinh, capital of the province by the same name. Operations took place mostly in the triangle Nam Dinh, Phuly and Ninh Binh. Intensely rice cultivated and subject to energetic and constant infiltration by the Viet Minh. Preparations for a major operation were made on May 20 while positioned along the Provincial Route 21 , the route from Nam Dinh to Phuly on the River Day. Very early on May 21 departure on board of our transports with, to us an unknown destination. When dawn broke the outlines of a range of limestone hills became visible. Learned later that this was the Khe NonRange located about 17 km south-east of Phuly and with a length of 7 km and a width of 1 1/2 km. Searches on foot of some villages yielded no results. Soon noises of intense firefights from several directions could be heard. One more debarkation from our vehicles led us into the village of Dai Kien, situated to the south of the Khe Non Range. What no longer seemed to be a stroll through a deserted village turned into an attempt to overcome an enemy, determined to hold his ground. Leg.van der M. made himself conspicuous at a window of a hut and quickly made himself a target despite this writer's repeated warnings. He was promptly hit by a shot to his left thigh requiring great efforts to stop the bleeding. Being unable to walk it then took four troopers to evacuate him. Strength of this squad was now down to five with the need to dole out the wounded man's weapon, munitions and equipment. Except the webbing equipment everything was dealt with. A hiding place for the rest was found in the hut ( later to be found burned to the ground by artillery fire). Orders to move to the edge of the village were received to allow artillery fire to dislodge the defenders. My four Troopers did all return from their "mission of mercy" and a renewed push to take the village succeeded. Fortunately no further losses were incurred. Munitions were nearly exhausted especially hand grenades and rifle grenades. It so happened that our transports had endured heavy enemy fire with mortars and 57 mm recoilless rifles during which Trooper Mau lost his life. His remains traveled with us wrapped in a straw mat. During a halt his best comrade, the Brigadier-Chef Canh mounted the vehicle having heard of his death and drew back the mat. With a very tender movement he wiped away the bloody foam from his mouth and covered him up again. After this action information received showed that friendly troops included the II./13.DBLE which had just lost the I.and III. Battalions in Dien Bien Phu , one battalion of Maroccan riflemen and three Vietnamese battalions . Friendly losses were indicated above. Enemy losses were given as close to 400 killed and 76 POW. Arms recovered were one 57 mm recoilless rifle, two machine guns , six automatic rifles , forty seven rifles, one 60mm and one 50mm mortar. Of the above enemy losses our mounted elements received credit of 45 enemy killed and 20 POW, 26 weapons recovered of which was the 57mm rifle , two machine guns and one automatic rifle. Notes: some data was retrieved from the valuable book by General (ret.) Jacques Jauffret: "Crabes et Alligators dans les rizieres (Indochine 1953 - 1954) and from the award citation of Lt.X.de Cacqueray for the Croix de Guerre T.O.E. with Palm. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Chris. Thanks for your post. I do have a number of photos but do not know how to post. Sadly only one photo of M.d.L.-Chef Bonastre when in the regimental standard guard during the presentation. Our company later 18. Escadron was blessed with outstanding Adjudants de Company/Escadron. BTW: I plan on posting an account of the combat which took place on 21. Mai, 1954 also in the Red River Delta of Tonkin. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Dante: The bestowed person was a member of the Munich Fire Protection Police. The official's name who signed the document was "Grosskreutz" with the rank of Ministirialdirigent u.Abteilungschef ( a highranking civilian in the Ministry for Aeronautics and Commander in Chief of the Luftwaffe i.e.H.Goering) The Fire Protection Police was within the jurisdiction of that Ministry. Mr. Grosskreutz was a member of the Inspecteur des Luftschutzes ( Inspector of the Airraid Protection) and head of Section 2 from 1939 to March 31,1944. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Hugh. It seems you have been in Vietnam? I have not been back. My enlistment in the US Army as of 1960 with the intention of returning in an advisory role because of extensive service with vietnamese personnel during two tours of duty of two years each apparently only qualified for training as a clerk and an overseas assignment in Korea. I realized then it was time to shorten my three years commitment which worked out and quite legally. After 1975 travel restrictions from here caused me not to try. And now health concerns override any desire to go and see what I consider a beautiful country for a last time. BTW: it may not be widely known but France has brought back all remains of the fallen of which the burial places were known, based on a treaty with Vietnam in the 1980's. They are now gathered in a National Resting Place which also contains virtual remembrance walls with the names of those whose remains could not be retrieved. Your interest is truly appreciated, Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Hugh. The village of Tho Lao is located in the general area between Route Provincial 39(west) , the Canal des Bamboo (south) , the railroad Haiduong-Hanoi (north) and the Meridian of the town of Kesat (east). French Forces deployed during the Operation Dromedaire included three Groupements Mobile which usually had three to four infantry battalions, one arty battalion, engineers etc. , one local battle group of three battalions plus one Paratroop battalion and one Armored Group. The area in question is and was a built-up area and demonstrates the skill with which infiltration of sizeable Viet Minh units took place . Bernhard H. Holst

Dear readers: In order to perhaps bring to the attention of a few persons an event which has cost the lives of two of this writer's comrades and others during a combat in a war which is unknown to many people today, namely the First Indochina War, sometimes called the French - Indochina War I believe, 1945 to 1954. My intention here is to mention two members of the French Foreign Legion, one a NCO , Company Sergeant Major and platoon leader the other a Vietnamese NCO serving as an auxiliary with us who deserve to have their names taken from obscurity if only for a moment: - Marechal des Logis-Chef BONASTRE, Manuel, Adjudant de Compagnie, 5.Compagnie Portee, 2.Groupement Amphibie of the 1.REC and at the same time leader of 1. Platoon - Marechal des Logis THUC, Dien Thiet, leader of the 4.Squad of 1.Platoon. Both were killed in action on the 17.Mai 1952. The author served in this company, a mounted infantry company part of the newly formed amphibious formation since its beginning, Fall of 1951. My assignment was that of the company runner, assistant company radio operator and what else needed done. For the Operation DROMEDAIRE taken place in Mai 1952 I was temporarily Assistant Squad Leader of 1. Squad, 1.Platoon. By the 17. Mai the operation DROMEDAIRE had officially been terminated. Some of the units participating , such as the III./13.DBLE and others had already been withdrawn. But the III./5.REI with still around and ran into strong opposition when trying to enter a village by the name of Tho Lao. Our parent unit, the 2.Groupement Amphibie consisting of the 8. Escadron equipped with CRABS (M 24 Weasel, light and lightly armed but unarmored amphibious vehicles and two platoons of ALLIGATORS ( WWII armored amphibious tracked LVT/Landing Vehicle Tracked with heavier arms such as 30 and 50 cal M.G. and 75 mm Recoilless Rifles) which served as our companie's transports. While the 8.Escadron supported the Legion infantry on two sides of the rather large village, our company was to enter the village along a dike leading towards it, with the 4.Squad, 1.Platoon in the lead. Fire from the heavy weapons to assist us. At about 40 metres from the edge of the village a heavy small arms fire killed the Squad Leader, M.d.L. Thuc and wounded a legionnaire, Leg. Zenov and a vietnamese corporal . It was impossible to recover M.d.L.Thuc, we were just able to take his submachine gun and equipment. Our much liked M.d.L.-Chef Bonastre was mortally touched by a bullet to the head shortly after 16:00 hrs. This stopped our company's attempt to enter Tho Lao and nor was that of the III./5.REI more successful. My Squad Leader took over the platoon which was sent out of the firing line being temporarily useless. A a sleepless night was spent encercling the village together with a platoon of vietnamese riflemen belonging to the 5.REI reinforcing our company.The artillery fired intermittenly in an effort to prevent a breakout which I believe to have been partially successful after all. By morning one vietnamese rifleman of the 5.REI was found dead, a random round had hit him in the head. A strong artillery preparation lead up to a general assault on the village in the morning against light resistance . Our platoon was kept back because of shaky platoon leadership after the death of M.d.L.-Chef Bonastre but was still able to retrieve a large jar with documents. It was later determined to be the the archive of the defending Viet Minh unit. In addition an automatic rifle and five rifle were recovered by our company as well as 12 POW's. The entire combat yielded 80 prisoners and 90 dead enemy found . It was said that weapons to equip one company were recovered in total. I have no information as to the total French losses but they must have been considerable. This was a true shakedown for our company which consisted of a majority of vietnamese riflemen with only a very small cadre of legionnaires. The interim platoon leader was transferred upon our return to base. This writer returned to Headquarters Platoon to be the company radion operator because of the severe illness of the French speaking operator. It was the company's good fortune to have a C.S.M. like M.d.L.-Chef Bonastre during its training up and its's formative months . This writer because of his position in Headquarters Platoon and being charged with necessary chores got to know him a little better than others. He was a combat soldier not much inclined towards paperwork which got him into hot water with the Executive Officer many times. But that officer managed to stay out of the field except for one operation after which he was transferred without any fare well. This writer had the honor to be in the regimental color guard together with M.d.L.-Chef Bonastre when the regimental standard of the 1.REC was presented to the assembled troops of the 2. Groupement Amphibie of the 1.REC shortly before his death in action. I was unable to find M.d.L.-Chef Bonastre among the French Dept.of Defense listing of those who died for France in the conflict in Indochina, 1945 - 1954 (SGA Memoire des Hommes). He may have served under an assumed name and I hope he is at rest. Bernhard H. Holst ex- Brigadier Chef 1.REC and Sergent 1.RE, 1951 - 1957

Hello Chris. Impressive record of very active service. Thanks for showing these documents. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Chris. Thanks for showing this document. I liked the wording re. Geistesgegenwart und Entschlossenheit ( presence of mind and decisiveness) to prevent his becoming a POW. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello readers: I have read this thread with great interest. For English reading followers of this thread it seems that the following, mentioned book may be worth reading: "AMIENS Dawn of Victory' by James Mc Williams and R. James Steel. Published 2001 by Dundurn Press in Canada, England and the USA.ISBN 1-55002-342-X Includes some photos and the OoB. For German language readers: In the post WW I series Schlachten des Weltkrieges initiated and with collaboration of the Reichsarchiv, in 1930 appeared as volume 36 "Die Katastrophe des 8.August 1918". Includes maps and OoB for both the Allied Forces and the German defenders. The German OoB includes the classification of the several German divisions as to their combat worthiness , i.e. categorized as attack, strictly defense or intervention qualified (Les in # 3 mentioned this). Of note is that while the United Kingdom army divisions were reduced by one battalion per brigade to three, the Australian and Canadian maintained their brigade structures at four. The above mentioned German book makes no excuses but frankly describes this battle as the beginning of the end. The 8 August is also known as "The Black Day of the German Army". I know not of any restriction of the volumes of Schlachten des Weltkrieges after 1933 because some volumes contradict the slogans of the National Socialists that a stab in the back of the army ( Dolchstoss) lost the war. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello John. This letter pertains to a tugboat outfit which managed to escape from the later Soviet occupied area to the North Sea harbors. It deals with people's thereabouts and attempts to obtain jobs in the tugboat business. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello readers. Interesting posts indeed. Probably not of great interest these days to the broad public but a subject of widespread and much repeated published information and mis-information in the 1950's in Germany both west and east. The fairly large number of German citizens then serving and enlisting probably contributed to it. Some misinformation has endured until late . I.e. anybody will be accepted regardless of personal history etc. This writer was confronted with some of these aspects as late as the 1990's . And before that while enlisting in the US Army in 1960 was made subject of intense grilling for three days by investigators. During the French phase of the conflict in Indochina members of the French Foreign Legion mainly of German and other European countries who had the misfortune of becoming prisoners ( mind you I do not call them Prisoners of War ) were sometimes out of "leniency" repatriated to their homelands. Exploited for propaganda purposes but still subject to supervision. As an illustration: following the October 1956 Hungarian uprising while assigned to Legion Headquarters in Algeria, I encountered two former Hungarian Legionaires made prisoners in Vietnam then sent back to Hungary subject to twice weekly reports to the police. The uprising allowed them to get to Vienna where they reported to the French Embassy. They were attending resolution of their personal situation. Bernhard H. Holst serving 1951 - 1957

Hello Ralstona. Thank you for showing these rare documents. After all the number of participants in the actions named were rather small, so that the survival rate of such documents must be even much less what with "the ravages of time" and such. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Chris. With many squints and magnifying glass: "Im Felde seit 15.5.18. Besitzt das M.V.K. (Militaer Verdienst Kreuz ?) nicht. War jederzeit vorbildlich durch sein soldatisches Auftreten und seiner bis zum aeussersten Plichterfuellung." ...Oberleutnant etc P.S. do not master the Unlaut keys etc Bernhard H. Holst who started learning to write on a slate

Hello readers. For anyone interested in details re. German WW I artillery and/or all other matters concerning the German Army in WW I, may want to consult "Handbook of the German Army in War April 1918. Issued by the General Staff." Published jointly by The Imperial War Museum, London. Department of Printed Books, ISBN: 1-870423-60-7 and The Battery Press, Inc. Nashville, Tennesee 37219 USA, 1996 ISBN: 0-89839-244-6. It was reprinted in a limited edition but may be available. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Chris. Aside from the cross itself what strikes me when reading the document are: -early date; -signed by Grandadmiral Dr. Raeder himself, -recipient is a medical officer with lowest rank! I like decorations to medical personnel . Bernhard H. Holst

Hello readers: the document shown is a promotion document from Unteroffizier to Feldwebel and signed by a Hauptmann, commander of a Abteilung, component of the signals training school number three. This Luftnachrichtenschule existed throughout the war and was located in Pocking, I believe that to be in Bavaria. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello readers; On the 5th of January, 1952 died the wellknown leader of Commando 24 based in Nam Dinh, ,the Adjudant-Chef Roger Vandenberghe. He was assasinated by one of his Vietnamese subordinates. He died together with his mistress and many members of his unit during an uprising by turned or infiltrared enemies. Adjudant-Chef Vandenberghe was Chevalier of the Legion of Honor and recipient of the Medaille Militaire. He was preceded in death by his elder brother Albert who died for France the 6.June 1948 in Tonkin. A survivor of the Commando 24, Sergent-Chef Tran Dinh Vy, Medaille Militaire, became a Colonel in the National Vietnames Army and was able to escape to France. He served as a Colonel in the French Foreign Legion and the Historical Service. This writer was aware of the reputation of the Commando 24 and the uprising in early 1952 while on active service with the 1. REC in Tonkin from 1951 - 1953. The reconstituted Commando 24 served alongside our regiment on occasion but never regained the efficiency of the former. It may be of interest that Adj.-Chef Vandenberghe did not receive the rank of Second Lt. or promotion to Officer of the L.o.H. after death. Source : "Vandenberghe Le Commando Des Tigres Noir" by Charles-Henri De Pirey, former officer of the 1.Chasseurs. Bernhard H. Holst ex 2.Groupement Amphibie of the 1.REC

Hello Art. I have consulted the site : www.france-phaleristique.com which I have viewed many times before and is in my opinion reliable though not official. BTW: the book "The French Foreign Legion" by Douglas Porch quotes an ex-legionnaire that the VIII./1.REI was the unit deployed in Syria. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello readers: the site France Phaleristique lists the Fouragere in the colors of the Croix de Guerre T.O.E bestowed to the: - 4.Escadron/1.REC on 12.Mar.1926; - 1.REC on 8.Jul.1952 ( entire regiment); - 1.Groupe d'Escadrons/1.REC on 19.May 1953. I did not find any entry for any component of the 4.REI. Bernhard H. Holst

hello Art. The following information is from the book: Royal Etranger Legionnaires Cavaliers au Combat 1921-1984 by Alain Gandy It lists combats at Messifre, Sep.17, 1925 and Rachaya, Nov.1925. Infantry of the 4.REI and 4.Escadron of the 1.REC were involved. The 4./1.REC was awarded two Palmes of the C.d.G./ T.O.E. Bernhard H. Holst formerly of the 1.REC in Vietnam

Hello Ralstona. In addition to the very informative and detailed posts by Veteran I would like to add some details of which you may be aware already but may be of interest to readers: the first commander of the 13.DBLE (Narvik operation) as mentioned by Veteran was Lt.Col. Raoul Charles Magrin-Vernerey, perhaps better known as Ralph Monclar. This officer took a reduction in rank during the Korean War after a distinguished career,to command the French Battalion in Korea. He must be one of the highest decorated officers as he was awarded besides the Grand Cross of the L.o.H., the Companion of the Liberation and very rare the Medaille Militaire. These besides many other French and allied decorations. Two of the company officers your great-grandfather served with later commanded the 13.DBLE . Lt.Col. Brunet de Sarigne (killed in 1948 in Vietnam) and Lt.Col. Arnault . Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Veteran: Thank you for your post reminding me indirectly not to overly rely on my memory when I mentioned the Commandant Segretain as one of the regimental commanders of the 13.DBLE who lost their lives for France. He was indeed killed during the unfortunate attempt to evacuate the Cao Bang garrison in October 1950 commanding the 1.BEP which he formed just as you report. . In fact it is the Lt.Col. de Sarigne killed during an ambush on a convoy on the road to Dalat the 1 March 1948. He already served in the then 13. DBMLE (Demi Brigade de Marche Legion Etrangere) later the 13.DBLE during the Narvik operation in 1940. It may also be of interest to readers that the 3.REI, the successor of the RMLE as you , to my knowledge is the second highest decorated regiment in the French Army after the RICM (Regiment d'Infanterie Colonial du Maroc which while deployed in Indochina was an armored unit!). Thank you again , Bernhard H. Holst