Andre Fourié

André Fourié is a lieutenant French Army fallen at the time of the Bataille of Diên Biên Phu and godfather of promotion of the Cornice Brutionne 2004-2006 of the Military academy.

Biography

Born the September 3rd 1927 with Saint-Magne-with-Castillon (the Gironde), André Fourié has a rather difficult childhood since it follows his father, officer of administration, in his changes in Morocco, before joining the Children reared by the army in 1941 at the 14 years age when, because of war, it remains without seeing his family until in 1945.

It is allowed in 1946 with the Military academy in class of Cyr VI. Merry, spontaneous, he is very appreciated of his comrades for whom he really reflects “the love of life”. In 1947 it integrates the military special École of Saint-Cyr military school into the exit of which it chooses the Infantry.

Being carried voluntary for the troops parachutists it is affected in May 1950 with the 1st regiment of hunters parachutists based in Philippeville (Constantinois).

However the events worsen in Indo-China; in October, the evacuation of CAD Bằng turns to the disaster: a battalion of colonial parachutists, the 3rd BCCP is destroyed close to That Khe. In France, one decides to reform, with Vannes, a new battalion, the 3rd battalion of colonial parachutists, where lieutenant Fourié will be affected. The 3rd BPC embarks for Indo-China in December 1951.

Section head parachutist, lieutenant Fourié takes part in all the operations of the Battalion led to the Tonkin: it is initially the very difficult evacuation of Hòa Bình, in February 1952, then, in the southern part of the Delta, the operation " Mercure" , where the Battalion destroys two companies viêtminh.

The 3rd BPC is then sent to Against-Annam. Engaged successively in the operation amphibian " Sauterelle" then in the airborne operation " Caïman" , it contributes in a decisive way to crushing of the 101e regiment viêtminh.

Not a moment of respite for lieutenant Fourié who is of all the engagements. In October, the battalion is of return to Tonkin. It is parachuted in Phu Doan, the North-West of the delta, between the river Rouge and the Claire river, with 1st and 2nd BEP (foreign battalions parachutists). This grouping para, with the orders of colonel Ducourneau, seizes in Tuyen Quang a very important deposit material.

It is then the battle of ENV. NA In the night of November 30th at December, Viêtminhs launches a general attack against the fortified camp and submerges a fulcrum, the P.A. 24, opening a breach in defense. Following day, the 3rd BPC, lieutenant Fourié, with the head of its company, counter-attacks and takes again the fulcrum, which it defends bitterly the following night.

At the conclusion of these combat of an exceptional violence, lieutenant Fourié is quoted twice with the order of the army and sees himself allotting the Military Cross of the theaters of external operations with palm.

Its commander of company tells the continuation: “ Returned in Tonkin, the stay continues with a succession of operations whose for us the evacuation of the fortified camp from NA SAN in August 1953 emerges. At the end of August, we learn that the 3rd BPC must give rise to the 5th battalion of Vietnamese parachutists (5th BPVN). FOURIÉ is my assistant officer: it makes wonder near the Indochineses allured by his patience and its kindness. We are parachuted at Diên Biên Phu on November 22nd. All is calm and we revive first during the days of Sick Env. Na, I pass the company to Fourié in all peace of spirit… ”

Continuing his mission with the same determination, lieutenant Fourié falls mortally wounded at the time of the violent ones engagements of December 1953 in the Northern area of Diên Biên Phu where it is illustrated particularly as its last quotation testifies some.

Young commander of company of an exceptional value and an admirable courage. Still has just been characterized by its energy and its untameable energy during the operations carried out in the northern area from Diên Biên Phu (THAI country) from December 11th to 15th 1953. December 13rd, 1953, under an extremely violent and fatal enemy fire, sprang with the head of its company to the attack of the coast 1168 strongly organized and held by the adversary. By a fast operation, the objective occupied which had been assigned to him, inflicting to the Vietnamese soldier-minh extremely severe losses. With found a death glorious during the action, after having had the pride to install its unit on the conquered position, making the admiration of all by its coolness and its abnegation .

Named knight of the Legion of honor on a purely posthumous basis, type even of the Officer para to fire, it entered the legend of the parachutists and that of his Promotion.

It was selected like godfather of promotion of the Brutionne Cornice of the Military academy for 2005-2006

Random links: