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French Casualties in Afghanistan

Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 9:47 pm
by 1886lebel
August 19,2008

2 platoons, 60 men, belonging to the 8ème Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine (Airborne ... Marine Infantry) 2ème Régiment Etranger de Parachutistes (Airborne ... Foreign Legion) and Régiment de Marche du Tchad (Motorised Infantry ... Marine Infantry) patrolling with an unit of the Afghan National Army, 30 miles of Kabul, near Surobi have been caught in an important ambush at the end of the afternoon.

Many IED and RPGs hit the patrol, the fight went late into the night until mid morning, 10 French soldiers have been killed in action and 21 wounded.

Circumstances of the ambush: A group of 100 French, ANA and US SF were ending a patrol at high altitude and making a RECO on foot, no UAV available, when a group of 100 Talibans opened fire. 8 French paratroopers of the 8th RPIMA and one medic of the 2nd REP were instantly killed, a dozen of soldiers including the CO were wounded. Firefight last for hours during the night until morning, fire support came from two Apache and two A10 and partly from two Caracal used for MEDEVAC.

30 Talibans killed (their leader presumably among them), 30 Talibans wounded according to available informations.

Looks like the Talebans have really taken an agressive stance for weeks. An american unit had to go through a fierce fight near the border with Pakistan during the night.

Today France mourns it's Heros

http://www.postimage.org/aV2zxmN9.jpg[/pic]

http://www.postimage.org/PqYWXS.jpg[/pic]

http://www.postimage.org/aV29b1i.jpg[/pic]

http://www.postimage.org/aV29dwr.jpg[/pic]

God Bless these fallen soldiers

SOUVENIR............

Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 2:59 am
by DuncaninFrance

SOUVENIR............

Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 3:23 am
by Tom-May
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b313/ ... flower.jpg[/pic]

I believe that the French use the cornflower where we use the poppy

Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 11:37 am
by DuncaninFrance
That is right Tom. I went to the same page as you mate!
In France it is the symbol of the 11th November 1918 armistice and, as such, a common symbol for veterans (especially the now defunct poilus of World War I), similar to the poppies worn in the United Kingdom.

Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 2:08 am
by Tom-May
DuncaninFrance wrote:That is right Tom. I went to the same page as you mate!
In France it is the symbol of the 11th November 1918 armistice and, as such, a common symbol for veterans (especially the now defunct poilus of World War I), similar to the poppies worn in the United Kingdom.
Duncan,

What site was that?

I got it from a Great War re-enactor site when we were discussing wreaths, a couple of years back.

Tom

Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 2:30 am
by DuncaninFrance
Tom,

Wikipedia page on Cornflowers. That is the exact picture on their page! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornflower Folklore and symbolism.

Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 6:42 am
by Tom-May
Duncan,

I just pinched it off Google Image (t seemed the best image on the page)

Tom