French forces in the war of Korea

Following the invasion without warning of the territory of the Republic of Korea by the totalitarian mode of North the June 25th 1950, the any young person United Nations, by a vote of nine votes against zero (the Soviet Union had decided not to sit more), had invited its members required “ all the necessary assistance ” (“ such assistance ace may Be necessary… ”) to put an end to the aggression. The France, Co-founder of the O.N.U on June 26th, 1945 is one of the five permanent members of sound Safety advice. Strongly committed in the War of Indo-China at the time, it could provide only one very weak participation. However, the President of the French Republic Mister Vincent Auriol, and Mister Guy Mollet, considered necessary a help to the forces of the O.N.U in Korea. The government decided immediate sending of a war building taken on the squadron of the Far East and the formation of a quota of terrestrial forces.

Naval force

The colonial Aviso of 1 class Classe Bougainville Grandière has 01 (redésigné escort ship of 2nd F731 class) of the national marine was recalled of mission at the beginning of July 1950, whereas it was in the gulf of Siam. Armed “war” with the arsenal with Saigon, it installed on July 22nd of it to be integrated into the naval forces of the mainly American, British O.N.U and of the the Commonwealth.

It was affected at once with missions of escort and anti-submarine protection, in particular and anti-aircraft, innumerable convoys which poured men and materials in the tiny room of the Périmètre of Pusan in which were then driven back the terrestrial forces of the O.N.U.

Within the " Task Group 90.4" 7 {{E}} American Fleet and attached to Fourth Frigate Squadron (the Commonwealth) whose command was British, the " Grandière" took part within a formidable force amphibian of 230 warships, with the unloading of Inchon the September 15th 1950, feat of arms decisive of the troops of the O.N.U ordered by the General Douglas Mac Arthur, and from that of Wonsan.

He was recalled at the beginning of December in French Indo-China by Admiral F.M.E.O following the disaster of CAD Bang.

For this countryside, the escort ship Grandière received a presidential quotation of the Republic of Korea to the title of the TF 90.5 and was quoted once with the Order of the Navy.

The escort ship " Grandière" lost 2 men on the river of Saigon at the time of an attack of the Việt Minh, before installing for Korea.

Terrestrial force

The French Bataillon of UNO is created on August 25th, 1950. It was made of: 1017 volunteers come so much from active than from the reserves and placed under the command from the Lieutenant-colonel Monclar. Taking into account the changings and losses, it is a quota of: 3421 men whom France provides to the Force of the United Nations in Korea (F.N.U.C.) between 1950 and 1953.

November 29th, 1950, the French Battalion unloaded with Pusan to be integrated into the forces of the O.N.U. Complété of a company of the army of the Republic of Korea, it returned, at the sides of two Bataillon S American, in manpower of the 23e regiment of the 2 " Indianhead" Infantry Division, prestigious unit of the United States Army, whose characteristic is to be formed in France, with Bourmont (Haute-Marne) in 1917. (Engagements: the Marne - Battle of wood Belleau, Argonne…)

It was of all the principal combat as from January 1951 until the suspension of the hostilities in 1953.

In February 1951, the 23e R.I.US to which belongs the BF/ONU, is encircled in Twin Tunnel and Chipyong Ni. It will resist victoriously the 125e division of the popular Armée with Chinese release very whole and will manage to get clear, stopping the enemy projection.

In March, one sees it with the attack of the coast 1037 and in May it is with Putchaetul, intervening effectively to stop the Chinese offensive of spring.

From September in October 1951, the operations culminate for the battalion with the removal of coast 931 known as of the Bad cold-Heart (Heartbreak Ridge).

The BF/ONU continued to take part in all the actions carried out by the 2nd US division of the Iron Triangle to Chungasan and with the Spearhead until the armistice of July 27th, 1953. In October, the battalion leaves the Forces of the O.N.U to rejoin Indo-China.

The French Battalion of the O.N.U received two presidential quotations of the Republic of Korea, three presidential quotations of the United States of America, and was quoted five times at the Order of the French Army.

The French Battalion of UNO in Korea lost: 287 killed, including 18 Koreans -: 1350 wounded - 12 captive - 7 missings.

Memory

In France, the duty to remember is perpetuated by two Associations:

National association of the French Forces of the O.N.U and the Regiment of Korea (A.N.A.F.F. UNO & R.C.), 18 rue de Vézelay, 75008 Paris (Association " régimentaire" gathering old French Battalion of the O.N.U and sailors of the " Grandière" period 1950 to 1953, but also of old of the Regiment of Korea in Indo-China (GM100) and Algeria (156e IH, dissolves in 1962).

National association of the War veterans of the Second (Indian Head) Division of the United States and the French Battalion of the O.N.U in Korea, Head office: at its president, 8, rue Molière, 92400 Courbevoie. This association exclusively gathered old French Battalion of UNO integrated into 23e IH U.S. of the 2 US Division. Struck by the laws of demography, it is car-dissolved in 2000.

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