Response to the article:
Dien Bien Phu. Why did we hold on?
By Christian Morisot
Our friend PyC briefly explains in a timely editorial, following the commemoration of the end of the Indochina War and Dien Bien Phu, why the soldiers held on to the very end with exemplary willpower.
To clarify the main subject of his article, he makes a surprising revelation: "One does not die for an idea, but for one's own!" Thus, he arrives almost naturally at an inescapable conclusion: "Our legionnaires and the French soldiers at Dien Bien Phu held on for an idea that had been long debated; Not because of a mechanically executed order, but because at that precise moment, leaving for a safer place (to where?) would have meant abandoning loved ones…
Our friend PyC briefly explains in a timely editorial, following the commemoration of the end of the Indochina War and Dien Bien Phu, why the soldiers held on to the very end with exemplary willpower.
To clarify the main subject of his article, he makes a surprising revelation: "One does not die for an idea, but for one's own!" Thus, he arrives almost naturally at an inescapable conclusion: "Our legionnaires and the French soldiers at Dien Bien Phu held on for an idea that had been long debated; Not because of a mechanically executed order, but because at that precise moment, leaving for a safer place (to where?) would have meant abandoning loved ones…
In light of this response, a question remains: “How can one remain passive when there is so much to answer, especially since, as is often the case, it involves appealing to the philosophy that leads to everything, even to military operations abroad?”
Current conflicts are spreading, the world seems to have fallen into the hands of arsonists, and imaginations are running wild. Everyone can wonder if they would be able to withstand the shock of open warfare…
What would become of us if bombs exploded everywhere, if drones flew over our streets, if those of fighting age had to go to the front? These fears, alas, are part of the “mythological underpinnings” of our present. What happens to a human being in the transition from peace to war?
We legionnaires are prepared and hardened for war, and we learn a profound motivation forged through repeated deployments with heavy loads on our shoulders, nights spent sleeping outdoors without any particular protection, obeying orders, enduring the harshness of barracks life, and forgoing comfort. Interestingly, people from very different backgrounds come to join the Legion. In our institution, instructors use a typology of candidates, all volunteers, and organize them methodically to achieve balanced platoons.
There are the hardened, pure warriors, those who want to fight at any cost, and those who cherish order. In fact, after training, the legionnaire demonstrates extreme willpower, to the point of displaying a desire to win that often exceeds what the available resources allow. We can also mention this other, more pragmatic, soldier in our institution, who possesses a rational intelligence that allows them to make the best use of the resources and mental strength that can, unfortunately, also lead to the ultimate sacrifice. The heart and soul of the Legion remains the command, but its primary weapon remains the man, the legionnaire.
"Why do we hold on?" I remember Warrant Officer Sanchez; I had the privilege of serving alongside him in Madagascar with the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment (3rd REI). We were in the same company. I told him how much I admired him for having fought a Camerone Day in Algeria at the head of his isolated group. He gave me this surprising but perfectly sensible answer: "You see, Petit, we couldn't retreat, and they were out to get us. We had an excellent reason to hold on to the very end!"
Current conflicts are spreading, the world seems to have fallen into the hands of arsonists, and imaginations are running wild. Everyone can wonder if they would be able to withstand the shock of open warfare…
What would become of us if bombs exploded everywhere, if drones flew over our streets, if those of fighting age had to go to the front? These fears, alas, are part of the “mythological underpinnings” of our present. What happens to a human being in the transition from peace to war?
We legionnaires are prepared and hardened for war, and we learn a profound motivation forged through repeated deployments with heavy loads on our shoulders, nights spent sleeping outdoors without any particular protection, obeying orders, enduring the harshness of barracks life, and forgoing comfort. Interestingly, people from very different backgrounds come to join the Legion. In our institution, instructors use a typology of candidates, all volunteers, and organize them methodically to achieve balanced platoons.
There are the hardened, pure warriors, those who want to fight at any cost, and those who cherish order. In fact, after training, the legionnaire demonstrates extreme willpower, to the point of displaying a desire to win that often exceeds what the available resources allow. We can also mention this other, more pragmatic, soldier in our institution, who possesses a rational intelligence that allows them to make the best use of the resources and mental strength that can, unfortunately, also lead to the ultimate sacrifice. The heart and soul of the Legion remains the command, but its primary weapon remains the man, the legionnaire.
"Why do we hold on?" I remember Warrant Officer Sanchez; I had the privilege of serving alongside him in Madagascar with the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment (3rd REI). We were in the same company. I told him how much I admired him for having fought a Camerone Day in Algeria at the head of his isolated group. He gave me this surprising but perfectly sensible answer: "You see, Petit, we couldn't retreat, and they were out to get us. We had an excellent reason to hold on to the very end!"