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Marcel Letestu (8 April 1918 – 29 August 2006) was a Général de brigade of the French Army and Commandant of the Foreign Legion.[1]
Marcel Letestu | |
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| Born | 8 April 1918 Joué-lès-Tours, France |
| Died | 29 August 2006 (aged 88) France |
| Allegiance |  France |
| Service | French Army Foreign Legion |
| Years of service | 1936 - 1976 |
| Rank | Général de brigade |
| Commands | 1st Foreign Regiment 1er RE Operational Group of the Foreign Legion GOLE Foreign Legion Groupment GLE (1972-1973)  |
| Battles / wars | World War II Indochina War Algerian War |
Military career
editMarcel enlisted in the French Army in 1936 and became a Sergent (Sergeant) in 1938. A Sous-Officiers in the Franc Corps of the 160th Infantry Regiment (French: 160e Régiment d'Infanterie de Forteresse) in 1939 to 1940 at the front, he was made captive during the Phoney War. He managed to escape a stalag and joined the free zone.
He entered to the École militaire interarmes of Cherchell. He graduated as a Major of his promotion.
At the end of war, he was named as an instructor at the Perfection Officer School (French: école de perfectionnement des officiers) of Achern. In 1950, he was the champion of France for precision shooting and recordman for rapid shooting.
Promoted Captain in 1951, he joined the 5th Foreign Infantry Regiment 5e REI where he was cited and wounded in 1952.
He then served in Algeria where he commanded a battalion of the 1st Foreign Regiment 1e RE. He was then assigned to the École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr, where he commanded a company prior to assuming the role of an infantry instructor.
Promoted to Chef de bataillon (Commandant -Major) in 1958, he commanded a general staff headquarters Division of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment 3e REI in the Sud-Oranais. He then commanded the Foreign at Madagascar, prior to becoming the regimental commander of the 1st Foreign Regiment 1e RE in 1970. During his tenure, the Operational Group of the Foreign Legion G.O.L.E was created, then in 1972, the Foreign Legion Groupment G.L.E at Aubagne and the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment 2e REI, leading to the formation of the Commandement de la Légion Étrangère which he assumed the first command.[1]
He left the command of the Legion in 1973 to command, in 1974, the 23rd Territorial Military Division. He left active duty service in 1976.
Since 22 October 1977, général Letestu is the Patron of the École militaire interarmes promotion « Lieutenant Chezeau » (E.M.I.A 1977-1978) of the 1st Parachute Hussard Regiment 1er RHP.
Recognitions and Honors
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Grand-croix de la Légion d'honneur
Croix de guerre 1939-1945
Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures
Croix de la Valeur militaire
Croix du combattant volontaire
Croix du combattant
Médaille des évadés- 8 decorations
He was commended 13 times, 8 of which were in the Armed Forces order.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Commandement de la légion étrangère" (in French). Légion étrangère (French Foreign Legion). Retrieved 9 April 2018.
Sources
edit- History and Patrimony Division of the French Foreign Legion (French: Division histoire et patrimoine de la Légion étrangère)