Pierre Segrétain

Pierre Segrétain
Born	(1909-11-07)7 November 1909 Saint-Mihiel, France
Died	8 October 1950(1950-10-08) (aged 40) Mort pour la France Coc Xa, Vietnam
Allegiance	France
Service / branch	French Infantry Foreign Legion French Airborne
Years of service	1930–1950
Rank	Legion Commandant,Chef de Bataillon
Unit	35th Infantry Regiment 1st Foreign Regiment 1er RE 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment 2ème REI 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment 6ème REI 20th Colonial Infantry Regiment Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion RMLE 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment 1er RCP 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion 1er BEP
Commands	1er BEP (1948-1950) (I Formation) 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion
Battles / wars	World War II  • Battle of France  • Syria-Lebanon Campaign  • Tunisia Campaign First Indochina War  • Battle of Route Coloniale 4

Pierre Côme André Segrétain (7 November 1909 – 8 October 1950) was a French infantry and airborne officer of the French Army 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 (1^er BEP) when the battalion was created in 1948 and led for two years in Indochina before being fatally wounded while leading his battalion during the Battle of Route Coloniale 4.

Early life

Pierre Segretain was born in a French military family. His father was a colonel, his grandfather a division general of the French military engineers (French: Génie militaire). Pierre passed 2 years of corniche (French: corniche) at the lycée Sainte Geneviève de Versailles before integrating École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr in 1930.

Military career

Prior WW II

Main article: French Foreign Legion

Saint-Cyrien from Général Joseph Joffre promotion, Pierre was affected to the 35th Infantry Regiment at Belfort as platoon commander (lieutenant) then transmission officer. In May 1936, he volunteered for service in the 1st Foreign Regiment 1^er RE at Sidi-bel-Abbès; the Legion. Pierre got introduced to the battle campaigns of Algeria and Morocco with the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment 2^ème REI in 1938 and the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment 6^ème REI in 1939.

World War II

Main articles: Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion and 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment

With the outbreak of World War II, Lieutenant Segrétain belonged to the Foreign Legion group of the French Levant and volunteered to fight in metropole France. It is with the 20th Colonial Infantry Regiment (French: 20^e Régiment d’Infanterie Coloniale) at Saint-Gervais, where he received his baptism of fire. Pierre's bravery and efficiency proved exemplary in showcasing morale support for the ensemble of the troops and would bring forth his first citation. A difficult period commenced for Captain Segrétain, since in December 1940, he sailed to Beirut to join the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment 6^ème REI 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 sided this time with the Allies and engaged in the Tunisia Campaign against the Afrika Korps of Rommel. At Loukanda, he led his combat company facing a superiorly numbered and better-equipped enemy. In July 1943, Pierre participated to the creation and reforming of the Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion (R.M.L.E) with whom, he disembarked at Provence, delivered the Franche-Comté and progressed till Danube. Pierre would be made knight of the order of the Legion of Honor.

Indochina War

Main articles: List of French paratrooper units, 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment, and Pierre Jeanpierre

1^er Bataillon Étranger de Parachutistes, 1^er BEP (1948-1955)

In 1945, Pierre rejoined Coëtquidan (French: Coëtquidan), where, as unit Commandant, he was in charge for training transmission units. The Segrétain family lived 2 years of peace. After earning his French paratrooper brevet at Pau, captain Segrétain was assigned to the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment 1^er RCP.

A Legion officer formed at the evolutions of the infantry, Pierre was the first commander 1^er Chef of the 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion 1^er BEP, created on 1 July 1948 at Khamisis, creating also the battalion insignia. In November 1948, the battalion departed to Indochina. With Captain Pierre Jeanpierre seconding command of the 1^er BEP, Segrétain led numerous operations in the Tonkin.

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

Honours and awards

• 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.

Legacy

Posthumous homages

Promotion class "Chef de bataillon Segretain" École militaire interarmes ESM

The 193rd promotion of the École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr chose the promotion Chef de bataillon Segretain. The song of the promotion recalls the arms celebration of Chef de bataillon Segretain.

See also

• Major (France)
• Music of the Foreign Legion (MLE)

External links

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