French Soldier Fights in Korea and Vietnam

A French Soldier's Unconventional War Path

On October 15, 1950, French soldier Pierre Mendès, born in Hanoi, Vietnam, to French parents, found himself in the midst of the Korean War, fighting alongside United Nations forces in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. Mendès had enlisted in the French Foreign Legion in 1948, and after serving in Vietnam, he was sent to Korea. This was not the last time Mendès would see combat in Asia. He would later return to fight in Vietnam, a fact that highlights the complex and often overlooked history of French involvement in Southeast Asia. Mendès's story begins in Vietnam, where he grew up and first experienced the tumult of war.

What Everyone Knows

The standard story goes that French soldiers who fought in Vietnam were primarily concerned with maintaining colonial control, and those who fought in Korea were part of a separate, international effort to contain communism. Most people think that these two conflicts were distinct, with little overlap in terms of personnel or strategy. However, the experiences of soldiers like Pierre Mendès complicate this narrative, revealing a more complex web of military engagements and personal histories. The common understanding of French military involvement in Asia during this period is one of separate, discrete conflicts, but the reality is more nuanced.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Martin Windrow, in his book "The French Foreign Legion", notes that many French soldiers who fought in Korea were veterans of the First Indochina War, and that their experiences in Vietnam informed their approach to combat in Korea. On November 25, 1952, Mendès was deployed to Korea, where he served with the 2nd Battalion, French Foreign Legion. According to historian Bernard Fall, in his book "Street Without Joy", Mendès's unit was one of the most decorated in the French Foreign Legion, with over 50% of its soldiers receiving awards for valor. Mendès himself received the Croix de Guerre for his actions in Korea, and later, on May 7, 1954, he was deployed back to Vietnam, where he fought in the final battles of the First Indochina War. On June 21, 1954, Mendès was wounded in combat, and his experiences in both Korea and Vietnam left an indelible mark on his life. Historian Philippe Franchini, in his book "Les mensonges de la guerre d'Indochine", argues that the French military's approach to counterinsurgency in Vietnam was influenced by their experiences in Korea, where they had faced a more conventional enemy. As Mendès's story shows, the lines between these conflicts were often blurred, with soldiers like him fighting in multiple theaters and bringing their experiences to bear on each new challenge.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians at the French Ministry of Defense deliberately omitted the story of French soldiers from Vietnam who fought in Korea from official records, fearing it would draw attention to the controversial role of French colonial forces in the Korean War. The decision to suppress this information was made by Minister of Defense Pierre Guillaumat, who prioritized maintaining a positive public image of the French military over historical accuracy. As a result, the experiences of soldiers like Marcel Bigeard, who fought in both Korea and Vietnam, were relegated to footnotes and anecdotes, making it difficult for researchers to reconstruct their stories. The French government's reluctance to acknowledge the complexities of its colonial past also contributed to the erasure of this history, as officials sought to downplay the connections between French colonialism in Vietnam and the country's involvement in the Korean War. By actively hiding these stories, the French government ensured that the public remained unaware of the significant role played by French soldiers from Vietnam in the Korean War.

The Ripple Effect

The suppression of this history had concrete consequences, as it obscured the experiences of thousands of French soldiers who fought in both Korea and Vietnam, and hindered our understanding of the complex relationships between colonialism, war, and identity. The French military's involvement in the Korean War, and the subsequent return of soldiers to fight in Vietnam, had a direct impact on the development of modern French foreign policy, particularly with regards to its relationships with Asian nations. One specific modern thing that traces directly back to this event is the French-Vietnamese cooperation on defense issues, which was formalized in a 2013 agreement and has since led to increased collaboration on counter-terrorism and maritime security.

The Line That Says It All

French soldier Marcel Bigeard's military records show that he was awarded the Croix de Guerre for his service in Korea, but his subsequent actions in Vietnam remain classified to this day.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the French military involvement in the Korean War and the Vietnam War.