The legend of the Legion | Hacker News Reader

The legend of the Legion

aeon.co

88 pointsThevet18 comments

It feels like the author has decided, based on superficial views, that the Foreign Legion is uniquely a "death cult", and then forced his narrative through the article. But it makes no sense: all elite military forces are based on tales of hardship and sacrifices, the Legion is absolutely not unique in that regard.

I would argue that what made it distinctive is that, for much of its history, anyone could try to join regardless of where they came from (to this day you don't even need to speak French to apply -- you are taught the language during training), and be accepted solely on their individual performance, and then be given not only a new passport, but also a new legal name. To be no-one, and then earn a new identity if you make it through, is I think quite unique to them. And it fits with the "romantic view" mentioned in the article that is likely to attract quite a few candidates.

I used to live in Aubagne, the Legion's headquarters city. I spent quite a few evenings smoking pot with légionnaires bragging about their war stories.

One was about as wide-shouldered as high, with huge musculous, brown arms covered with burn scars. He told me his personal speciality was shooting a big machine gun, without tripod, running around Rambo-style, and the burns were from the hot barrel.

Another one proudly displayed his scarred belly: "this is when this guy attacked me with his knife, etc, finally I broke his neck" "this is when in Chad I received a 7.62 bullet" "this is when I was drunk and had a fight in Libreville".

Funny guys, better have them as friends than enemies :)

Sounds like most infantry units in any army.

The secret to befriend a legionnaire is to do baaa (sheep sound) behind their back.

So what I came up: it's either because it's their mascot or about le légionnaire Xarro, blackest of black sheep.

Something of an long standing reputation. It's because when legionnaires are on a mission in the desert, there aren't any women around. But there are sheeps...

Risky joke ;)

The coolest of the Legion's traditions is that its service anthem -- its version of say, the Marines' Hymn -- is Edith Piaf's "Je Ne Regrette Rien", which was dedicated by Piaf to the Legionnaires in Algeria at the time of its release. They sing it in parades and as a drinking song, it's awesome.

For context, it should be noted that this song was adopted following the participation of the 1st REP (1st Foreign Parachute Regiment) in the 1961 putsch against the French government. President Charles de Gaulle had embarked on a policy of self-determination for Algeria (which would culminate in independence). This was met by disbelief within army which had been fighting the Algerian rebels for the past seven years. As a result, there was widespread dissent, culminating in the failed 1961 putsch. Several of the generals were caught and court-martialed, while others went underground and joined the OAS terrorist group.

Well, the actual anthem is "Tiens voila du budin" - it's far older and more acceptable.

The Piaf song is more an edgy marching song for those elements in the legion who don't feel any loyalty to the milquetoast French civilians and reminisce fondly about when the Legion putsched against de Gaulle in the 60s...

For anyone looking for a fantastic read -- both as a historical document and as a coming-of-age tale -- check out Simon Murray's Legionnaire.

Robert Twigger (the author) is an interesting fellow: he started as a poet but soon developed a fascination for adventure, working as s bodyguard, explorer and getting involved in lots of odd stuff.

I read Angry white pyjamas (about his year studying Aikido in Japan's thoughest dojo) - I am an Aikidoka myself and I think he missed something during his practice, but he can surely write entertainingly.

yes that was a good book. very different from the aikido I have seen :) but that was the point he was making -- about how in its the birthplace it has evolved differently...

There's a weird, undefined use of "nihilism" threaded through this piece.

I read “Death-loving nihilism” as the flavor the author associates with the legionnaires, in contrast to “... a more workaday nihilism” associated with the Samurai. Perhaps he means that the meaninglessness of life puts the experience of death on equal footing with all others.

Another trivia : their official parde suit is a butcher's apron

Not quite, only the Pionneers wear an apron (and a beard! and an axe!) when they parade, and it's not a butchers apron but a workman's leather apron.

sapeurs/sappers (combat engineers):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapper#/media/File:Pionnier-le...

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